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

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.