Strong variations of gamma-ray and atmospheric electric field during various meteorological conditions by observations in Yakutsk and Tiksi

Anatoliy Toropov,Vladimir Kozlov,Sergey Starodubtzev,W.J Miloch,G.M Vodinchar,B.M Shevtsov

doi:10.1051/e3sconf/20186201013

Abstract

The results of a study strong increase in gamma-ray background in the surface layer of the atmosphere during precipitation and near thunderstorms in Yakutsk (based on the Cosmic Ray Spectrometer of the Institute of Cosmic Rays of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences) and Tiksi (Polar Geospace Observatory of the IKFIA SB RAS) are present in this paper. Scintillation detectors based on NaI (Tl) crystals with a size of 63mm x 63mm are used to register gammaray . The range of measured energies is 20-1900 keV. Detectors are closed from the sides and from below with lead (5 cm) and placed in thermoboxes having a glass window. Both of the detectors are located on the roof of buildings in Yakutsk and Tiksi. Also, synchronous registration of variations of the atmospheric electric field, (electrostatic fluxmeters Boltek EFM-100) and main meteorological parameters of the atmosphere (ultrasonic weather station AMK-04). An explicit relationship was found between the increase in the background gamma-ray and heavy rainfall. The energy spectra of the gamma background are obtained under “good” weather conditions and during heavy precipitation and near thunderstorms. The carried out researches allow to consider that the increase of the gamma background is connected, first of all, with the emission of radon and its daughter products from the ground and, to a lesser extent, with bremsstrahlung of charged particles in strong electric fields of a thunderstorm atmosphere.

Highlights

Numerous studies of recent decades describe in detail the results of studies of variations in the surface gamma background
Heavy precipitation are due to radon emission from the soil and precipitation of radon decay products (210Po, 210Pb, 214Pb, 214Bi) on aerosols and water droplets [3]. According to another theory [4], the increase in gamma background is due to the bremsstrahlung of cosmic ray muons in strong electric fields of a thunderstorm atmosphere
The cosmogenic isotope of beryllium (Be7) is formed in the upper layers of the atmosphere under the influence of cosmic rays and slowly drifts on the surface of the earth. Meteorological phenomena such as thunderstorms and heavy precipitation can theoretically increase the influx of cosmogenic beryllium from the upper atmosphere to the surface of the earth, thereby increasing the intensity of the surface gamma background

Summary

Introduction

Numerous studies of recent decades describe in detail the results of studies of variations in the surface gamma background. Heavy precipitation are due to radon emission from the soil and precipitation of radon decay products (210Po, 210Pb, 214Pb, 214Bi) on aerosols and water droplets [3] According to another theory [4], the increase in gamma background is due to the bremsstrahlung of cosmic ray muons in strong electric fields of a thunderstorm atmosphere. Meteorological phenomena such as thunderstorms and heavy precipitation can theoretically increase the influx of cosmogenic beryllium from the upper atmosphere to the surface of the earth, thereby increasing the intensity of the surface gamma background These prerequisites determined the need for a series of field observations in Yakutsk and Tiksi related to the study of variations of natural gamma radiation during precipitation, near thunderstorms, snowstorms and to establish the role of variations in the atmospheric electric field, meteorological conditions of the atmosphere, the contribution of short-lived uranium radionuclides contained in aerosols in the lower atmosphere, to increase the surface gamma background.

Equipment

Experimental data and results

Findings

Conclusions