Thunderstorm Charge Distribution Determination Using Cosmic Rays Induced Air Showers and Lightning Imaging at LOFAR

Trinh TN, Scholten O, van Loon R, Hare BM, Assink JD, Bouma S, Buitink S, Corstanje A, Cummer S, Desmet M, Dwyer J, Falcke H, Hörandel JR, Huege T, Karastathis N, Krampah GK, Laub P, Liu N, Lourens M, Mulrey K, Nelles A, Pandya H, Sterpka C, Terveer K, Thoudam S, Turekova P, ter Veen S (2025)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2025

Journal

Geophysical Research Letters American Geophysical Union (AGU)

Book Volume: 52

Article Number: e2025GL115586

Journal Issue: 8

DOI: 10.1029/2025GL115586

Abstract

The LOw Frequency ARray (LOFAR) radio telescope possesses the unique capability to measure ultra-high energy cosmic rays as well as image lightning discharges. This study presents a comparison between the inferred thunderstorm charge structures derived from cosmic-ray measurements and from lightning flashes. Our results show a basic triple-layered distribution: a positive upper layer, a main negative layer, and a positive lower layer. However, our cosmic-ray measurement shows a bottom-heavy structure, where the charge in the upper positively charged layer is smaller than that in the lower one. This is consistent with practically all lightning observations with LOFAR, showing well-developed negative leader structures at altitudes below those where positive leaders are seen. This is very different from the vast majority of thundercloud charge structures seen around the world.

Authors with CRIS profile

Sjoerd Bouma Professur für Experimentelle Astroteilchenphysik, insbesondere Radionachweis von Neutrinos Philipp Laub Professur für Experimentelle Astroteilchenphysik, insbesondere Radionachweis von Neutrinos Anna Nelles Professur für Experimentelle Astroteilchenphysik, insbesondere Radionachweis von Neutrinos Karen Terveer Lehrstuhl für Experimentalphysik (Astroteilchenphysik)

Involved external institutions

Can Tho University / Trường Đại học Cần Thơ VN Viet Nam (VN) Kapteyn Astronomical Institute NL Netherlands (NL) Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute (KNMI) NL Netherlands (NL) Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) BE Belgium (BE) Duke University US United States (USA) (US) Radboud University Nijmegen NL Netherlands (NL) Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) DE Germany (DE) Astron NL Netherlands (NL) Khalifa University of Science, Technology & Research (KUSTAR) / جامعة خليفة AE United Arab Emirates (AE)

How to cite

APA:

Trinh, T.N., Scholten, O., van Loon, R., Hare, B.M., Assink, J.D., Bouma, S.,... ter Veen, S. (2025). Thunderstorm Charge Distribution Determination Using Cosmic Rays Induced Air Showers and Lightning Imaging at LOFAR. Geophysical Research Letters, 52(8). https://doi.org/10.1029/2025GL115586

MLA:

Trinh, T. N.G., et al. "Thunderstorm Charge Distribution Determination Using Cosmic Rays Induced Air Showers and Lightning Imaging at LOFAR." Geophysical Research Letters 52.8 (2025).

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