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Large Storms On Earth Are Particle Accelerators

Posted by timothy on from the you-bet-they-are dept.

MondoMor writes "Apparently, the atmosphere above Earth's strongest storms acts like a particle accelerator, according to a UC Santa Cruz paper. TGFs (Terrestrial Gamma ray Flashes) may occur as seldom as 50 times a day, 'but the rate could be up to 100 times higher if, as some models indicate, TGFs are emitted as narrowly focused beams that would only be detected when the satellite is directly in their path.' I'm glad the gamma-ray bursts are directed into space."

3 of 166 comments (clear)

  1. We already knew TGIFs were dangerous by zurtle · · Score: 5, Funny
    Gamma rays? Pfffft!

    Last time I was in a TGIF restaurant, I was exposed to all sorts of dangerous things...
    Waiters
    Loud Americans with cigars
    and of course copious amounts of spilled beer.

    --
    Couldn't stand the weather
  2. Not a new idea. by lecithin · · Score: 5, Funny

    This dates back to 'The Wizard of Oz' when Dorothy and Toto were accelerated over the rainbow by a large storm.

    --
    It could be worse, it could be Monday.
  3. Images of these gamma bursts by centipetalforce · · Score: 5, Informative

    These gamma ray bursts are also known as red sprites, blue jets, and super lightning.
    http://images.google.com/images?q=red%20sprites