BATSE TGFs
Terrestrial Gamma Flashes

This page allows you view selected time histories of events known as Terrestrial Gamma Flashes (TGFs).

  • BATSE discovered these events in 1991 [ Discovery of Intense Gamma-Ray Flashes of Atmospheric Origin, Fishman, G. J.; Bhat, P. N.; Mallozzi, R.; Horack, J. M.; Koshut, T.; Kouveliotou, C.; Pendleton, G. N.; Meegan, C. A.; Wilson, R. B.; Paciesas, W. S.; Goodman, S. J.; Christian, H. J. Science, 264, 1313, 1994.]
  • BATSE discovered the association of TGFs with large thunderstorm activity,
  • BATSE detected several TGFs with multiple well-separated pulses for the first time,
  • BATSE data suggested a possible new source of high-energy electrons and positrons in the earth's inner magnetosphere [ High-energy electron beams launched into space by thunderstorms , Dwyer, Joseph R.; Grefenstette, Brian W.; Smith, David M. GeoRL, 35, 2815, 2008.]
  • BATSE also discovered that detected TGFs suffer from detection deadtime effects. [Time evolution of terrestrial gamma ray flashes , Grefenstette, B. W.; Smith, D. M.; Dwyer, J. R.; Fishman, G. J. GeoRL, 35, 6802, 2008.]

    • To view event time histories, select a BATSE trigger number, then press one of the buttons at the bottom of the page to select the appropriate dataset. You can choose from several combinations of detectors and energy channels for the time histories of each TGF:

    1. Summed over the triggered detectors, and summed over four energy channels.
    2. Summed over the triggered detectors, in four separate energy channels.
    3. Eight individual detectors, summed over four energy channels. Plots in each of the horizontal rows are from opposite-facing BATSE modules on the GRO spacecraft.
    4. Eight individual detectors, in each of the four discriminator energy channels. You can view all eight LADs and all four energy channels at the same time (32 plots), or you can choose to view each LAD separately.

    Select a BATSE Trigger Number
    Select Dataset to View
    *Note that all plot combinations may not be available for some triggers.
    • Summed over triggered detectors, summed over discriminator energy channels
    • Summed over triggered detectors, separate discriminator energy channels
    • Separate detectors, summed over discriminator energy channels
    • Separate detectors, separate discriminator energy channels
    • CGRO Location at trigger time
      • Select Plot Format

      Select GIF for viewing on your computer monitor, and PDF for printing.



    Modification date: 28 Aug, 2018
    Author: Narayana Bhat
    Responsible Manager: Steve Elrod
    Site Curator: Narayana Bhat