Continuous Glow of the Nighttime Atmosphere during Thunderstorms and the Dynamics of Its Electrical State, Derived from Data on Cosmic Ray Variations

Abstract

New physical effects accompanying thunderstorms are studied at the Baksan Neutrino Observatory with the Carpet air shower array. Techniques are developed that allow the potential difference in the troposphere to be estimated using data on the variations in secondary cosmic rays. Remote digital video cameras continuously observe the night sky above the array. The means of analysis is described, and some experimental evidence is presented for correlations between the high-altitude glow and variations in the detected particle flux and global disturbances of the geomagnetic field. Examples of the possible influence of seismic activity on the dynamics of thunderstorms are presented.