Researchers hope to shed light on dark lightning radiation
Thursday, June 13, 2013 - 07:30
in Astronomy & Space
Scientists now know that thunderstorms, working as powerful natural terrestrial particle accelerators, produce intense flashes of ionizing radiation called "dark lightning." To further their understanding of this phenomena, researchers at the Naval Research Laboratory's Space Science Division are making precise observations of these flashes from space and running detailed simulations to understand the nature of dark lightning and to quantify the radiation exposure it may present to the crew and passengers of aircraft.