NASA Spy Plane Reveals Gamma Radiation in Tropical Thunderstorms

High-altitude flights show that most large tropical storms generate complex gamma-ray emissions.

Scientists used a retrofitted NASA U-2 spy plane to study gamma radiation in tropical thunderstorms.
The research found that nearly all large tropical thunderstorms produce gamma rays in various forms.
Two new types of gamma-ray emissions, flickering gamma-ray flashes and long-lasting glows, were discovered.
Gamma rays are generated by high-energy electrons accelerated in the storm's electric fields.
The findings suggest that gamma-ray processes may play a role in lightning initiation and storm dynamics.