11:40 AM - 11:55 AM
[1H07] Evaluation of a Gamma-ray Flash coinciding with a Lightning Discharge during Winter Thunderstorms
Keywords:monitoring post, lightning discharge, gamma-ray flash
Terrestrial gamma-ray flashes, lightning-associated submillisecond emissions, have been detected by both airborne/spaceborne and on-ground detectors. Monitoring posts of nuclear power plants located along Sea of Japan also observe increases in radiation doses associated with lightning discharges during wintertime thunderstorms. We analysed a dose increase detected by ionization chambers at Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant in November 2017. Combining results from our independent radiation measurements and Monte Carlo simulations, we confirmed that the dose increase observed by monitoring posts originates from a downward-directed terrestrial gamma-ray flash provoked above the power plant.