Terrestrial Gamma-Ray Flashes (TGF's) observed with BATSE

An Observation of a Red Sprite from an Aircraft at 43,000 ft
(Click for larger view)

Image courtesy of the Geophysical Institute, University of Alaska Fairbanks.

This page allows you view selected time histories of events known as Terrestrial Gamma Flashes (TGFs). These events were discovered with BATSE (Fishman, G. J. et al., 1994, Science, 264, 1313) to originate from high in the Earth's atmosphere, and are believed to be associated with large thunderstorm activity. The image above is a Red Sprite, thought to be a possible origin of the Gamma Flashes observed with BATSE.

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.

For information about Sprites and Jets, visit Marshall Space Flight Center's Global Hydrology Center, or NASA's Sprites and Jets web page.

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Select a BATSE Trigger Number

106 868 1300 1334 1433 1457 1470 1787 1915 2144 2185 2223 2348 2370 2444 2457 2465 2516 2573 2692 2754 2808 2835 2955 3148 3192 3233 3244 3258 3264 3274 3277 3285 3302 3309 3310 3313 3314 3315 3331 3377 3382 3446 3457 3470 3474 3478 3500 3501 3813 3925 3931 4355 5006 5317 5520 5577 5578 5579 5582 5583 5587 5588 5598 5665 6185 6773 6777 7168 7208 7229 7325 7844 8006 8083 8108

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.

GIF PDF

Please return to the BATSE Home Page or the Gamma Ray Astrophysics Home Page.

Author	Robert S. Mallozzi
Responsible Manager	Charles Meegan
Site Curator	Valerie Connaughton