Gamma radiation is produced in large tropical thunderstorms
Large tropical thunderstorms can generate enormous electric fields that emit bursts of gamma radiation, prompting curiosity about their underlying physics and possible ecological effects. Commenters largely focus on how poorly mainstream articles convey the scale of these fields, criticizing metaphors like “100 million AA batteries” and clarifying distinctions between voltage, electric field strength, and energy. The thread branches into related phenomena such as lightning sprites, triboluminescence, and radiation-induced mutations, with most arguing that atmospheric gamma bursts are fascinating but likely insignificant for evolution compared to factors like biomass and climate.
Media Units and Science Communication
- Strong pushback on describing storm electric fields as “100 million AA batteries stacked end-to-end” instead of ~150 megavolts.
- Critics argue:
- SI units are clearer and comparable (e.g., to high‑voltage substations, Van de Graaff generators).
- A stack of batteries is a voltage analogy, not an electric field (which is voltage per length).
- “Millions of batteries” is no more intuitive than “megavolts” for most people.
- Defenders argue:
- Journalists target ~4th–6th grade reading levels; familiar objects (batteries, football fields, whales, cheese, etc.) help readers grasp scale.
- “Megavolt” itself is obscure to non‑specialists.
- Thread expands into “journalist units” (football fields, whales, “millions of dollars”) and how rounding and vague numbers can both mislead and simplify.
Electric Fields, Lightning, and Energy Scale
- Clarifications:
- Voltage ≠ power; megavolts don’t directly tell you household energy equivalence.
- Lightning bolts carry large energy (billions of joules, ~kWh scale), but over microseconds.
- Some note the article blurs field strength and potential.
- Side discussion on humorous units (electric eels, football fields, etc.).
Sprites and High-Energy Atmospheric Phenomena
- Commenters connect the article to “red sprites” and other upward lightning phenomena.
- Noted:
- These discharges are powerful enough to create brief aurora-like effects.
- They were long reported by pilots but only recently widely accepted and imaged.
- Linked storm-chaser and space-based imagery are praised for showing scale and altitude.
Gamma Radiation, Mutation, and Biodiversity
- Question: could thunderstorm gamma radiation help explain high tropical biodiversity?
- Responses:
- Some say the effect on mutation rates is “insignificant” and biomass and environment dominate.
- Others point to research that gamma rays and natural radioactivity can increase mutation rates and are used deliberately (e.g., atomic gardening), but no consensus is reached on ecological impact here.
- Discussion digresses into how biodiversity is measured (microbial vs macro-organisms) and the difference between genetic diversity and broader biodiversity; no clear resolution.
Alternative Thunderstorm Theories
- A plasma-flow-based hypothesis for storm and tornado formation is mentioned as fringe and outside mainstream.
- No detailed scientific evaluation in the thread; interest expressed but status remains unclear.
Radiation from Everyday Phenomena
- Article reminds some of x‑rays from peeling Scotch tape and broader “mechanoluminescence” phenomena (triboluminescence, sonoluminescence, earthquake lights).
- There is clarification that:
- Gamma rays (nuclear/annihilation origin) differ from x‑rays from electronic processes.
- Thunderstorms can act like particle accelerators, “atom-smashing” to produce high‑energy photons.
Lightning Safety and EMI
- Beyond direct strikes and voltage, commenters highlight:
- Strong electromagnetic interference from nearby lightning can induce damaging currents in electronics and radio gear.
- Curiosity about whether devices or materials could safely capture lightning energy is raised but not answered in detail.