Los Alamos Study Reveals Cosmic-Ray Showers Trigger Lightning Flashes
Key Points Los Alamos researchers discovered that cosmic-ray showers help trigger lightning by creating ionized pathways in clouds. The team used BIMAP-3D, an advanced 3D mapping system, to monitor lightning discharges. They observed a slanted polarization pattern in lightning discharges, deviating from the storm’s electric field. The Earth’s magnetic field deflects high-energy electrons and positrons from cosmic rays, affecting the discharge direction. Researchers at Los Alamos National Laboratory have uncovered compelling evidence that cosmic-ray showers are critical in initiating lightning...
