A new study uses data from the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission to demonstrate that electrified storms in the tropics are 10 times larger over the ocean than those over land.
lightning
Posted inResearch Spotlights
Lightning "Impulses" Improve Models of Global Electrical Circuit
New simulations of how thunderstorms drive electrical currents through the Earth's atmosphere combine precision with computational speed.
Posted inResearch Spotlights
Gaseous Planets May Have Huge Luminous Rings Caused by Lightning
What business do elves have in the upper atmospheres of gas giants? Plenty, it seems. The enormous ring-shaped phenomena triggered by lightning may occur on Jupiter, Saturn, and exoplanets.
Posted inResearch Spotlights
Newly Discovered Properties of Elusive Gamma Ray Flashes
The properties of terrestrial gamma ray flashes have eluded scientists for years. This new study sheds light on how they originate.
Posted inNews
Experiment Captures First Image of Thunder
Scientists can now visually capture the sound waves created by thunder, a technique that could lead to an increased understanding of how lightning forms and transmits energy.
Posted inResearch Spotlights
What Causes Extreme Hail, Tornadoes, and Floods in South America?
A study of extreme weather in South America shows seasonal and spatial patterns, which, if better understood, could help save lives and minimize damage to property.
Posted inAGU News
Qin Receives the 2014 Fred L. Scarf Award
Jianqi Qin has been awarded the Fred L. Scarf Award. He was formally presented with the award at the 2014 American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting, held 15–19 December in San Francisco, Calif.
Posted inResearch Spotlights
Do Cities Cause Thundersnow?
Analysis of lightning within a February 2011 snowstorm reveals that 73% of lightning flashes occurred close to tall, human-built structures.
Posted inNews
Lightning Strikes Predicted to Increase as Climate Warms
New study suggests that the frequency of lightning strikes will increase as the climate continues to warm.
Posted inScience Updates
Exploring the Origin of High-Energy Particle Beams in the Atmosphere
Thunderstorms and Elementary Particle Acceleration; Yerevan, Armenia, 22–26 September 2014