In the month of July 2023, NASA’s ER-2 aircraft, a component of the ALOFT project, made flights near thunderclouds to investigate the connection between lightning and energy fields in the atmosphere. By operating at a special altitude, it enables scientists to gather in-depth information on the high-energy radiation released by thunderstorms. Credit: NASA
The ER-2 plane, under the ALOFT project’s guidance, examined atmospheric lightning and related energy fields in July 2023. The goal of this research is to enhance understanding of thundercloud gamma-ray flashes and impact future technologies for space-based lightning mapping.
Throughout that month, NASA’s ER-2 flew in proximity to thunderclouds to explore the relationship between lightning and immense atmospheric energy fields. Being the highest-flying aircraft in NASA’s Airborne Science Program, the ER-2 provides researchers with a fresh perspective on storm clouds.
Historically, lightning studies were conducted by low-flying aircraft or distant ground observers, making detailed observation difficult. While satellites such as NASA’s TRMM and NOAA’s GOES and other space-based instruments have recorded lightning from afar, NASA’s ER-2 can reach an optimal altitude of 60,000 feet (20,000 meters), ideal for close observation of thunderclouds.
The ALOFT project was established through collaboration between NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in California and the University of Bergen in Norway. This joint effort involves scientists, investigators, pilots, engineers, and technicians, and focuses on the study of lightning glows and terrestrial gamma-ray flashes. Flying just above thunderclouds over the Floridian and Caribbean areas, NASA’s ER-2 is gathering precise data that will forward our understanding of thunderstorms’ high-energy radiation emissions. Credit: NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center
Table of Contents
A Closer Look at Lightning through the ALOFT Project
Scientists in the ALOFT project, or Airborne Lightning Observatory for Fly’s Eye Simulator and Terrestrial Gamma Rays, utilized the ER-2 to fly over Central America, the Caribbean, and Florida’s coast, regions known for thunderstorm activity. From just above thunderclouds, the team plans to collect comprehensive data to progress the study of thunderstorms’ high-energy radiation emissions. Collaboration includes institutions like the University of Birkeland in Norway, NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center, and others.
The mission’s objective, as explained by lead investigator Nikolai Ostgaard, is to delve into the microphysics of the vast electric field overhead, focusing on understanding the conditions under which terrestrial gamma-ray flashes (TGFs) are produced and the behavior of gamma-ray glows in thunderclouds.
Two Lockheed ER-2 Earth Resources aircraft are operated by NASA as flying labs, based in California, gathering data on various environmental and atmospheric aspects. Credit: NASA
Delving into Gamma Rays and Thundercloud Science
The mechanics of these glows and flashes resemble a battery. Thunderclouds charge from friction between humid and cold air, and lightning discharges that energy. These discharges reduce the glow of highly energetic gamma rays within the thundercloud, leading to gamma-ray flashes.
NASA’s pilots fly the ER-2 close to thunderclouds, measuring gamma rays’ brightness with specialized instruments. If electrically glowing thunderclouds are detected, pilots are instructed to circle and fly over the cell for data collection.
The versatile ER-2 aircraft can operate from 20,000 to 70,000 feet above ground, housing a variety of payloads for different mission objectives. Credit: NASA/Carla Thomas
Additional Instruments and Future Directions
Beyond lightning equipment, NASA also employs precipitation and cloud radars and microwave radiometers. These tools enable the measurement of storms’ structures, offering more insights into electric field mechanisms.
The highly time-resolved instruments can detect individual photons of a lightning flash. Ostgaard anticipates that this new data will uncover previously unknown details about lightning and electric fields. The information will also contribute to the design and evaluation of the next generation of space-based lightning mappers.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about NASA’s ER-2 aircraft
What is the purpose of NASA’s ER-2 aircraft flying near thunderclouds in July 2023?
The ER-2 aircraft, part of the ALOFT project, flew near thunderclouds to investigate the connection between lightning and energy fields in the atmosphere. This research aims to deepen the understanding of gamma-ray flashes in thunderclouds and influence future space-based lightning mapping technologies.
What makes the ER-2 aircraft unique in studying lightning?
The ER-2 aircraft can fly at about 60,000 feet (20,000 meters), an optimal altitude and proximity to thunderclouds, allowing for detailed examination of high-energy radiation emissions from thunderstorms. This provides a unique perspective compared to traditional low-flying aircraft or satellite measurements from greater distances.
What is the ALOFT project?
The ALOFT project, or Airborne Lightning Observatory for Fly’s Eye Simulator and Terrestrial Gamma Rays, is a collaborative research initiative involving NASA and the University of Bergen, Norway. It focuses on investigating lightning glows and terrestrial gamma-ray flashes and aims to collect more accurate data to advance the study of high-energy radiation emissions from thunderstorms.
How are gamma rays connected to thunderclouds and lightning?
Thunderclouds are charged by the electric friction between humid air and cold air crystals, and lightning discharges that energy, reducing the glow of highly energetic gamma rays inside the thundercloud. These discharges can produce gamma-ray flashes, brief bursts of light that are even more intense than gamma-ray glows.
What regions did the ER-2 aircraft cover, and what instruments were used?
The ER-2 aircraft flew over Central America, the Caribbean, and Florida’s coast, collecting detailed data on high-energy radiation emissions from thunderstorms. Instruments mounted on the aircraft measured the brightness of gamma rays, using scintillators or crystals, to create a light pulse when hit by a gamma ray.
How will the information gathered from this research be utilized in the future?
The data collected will provide new insights into the behavior of lightning and the associated electric fields. This knowledge will contribute to understanding thunderclouds and lightning and help scientists and engineers evaluate new design concepts for the next generation of space-based lightning mappers.
More about NASA’s ER-2 aircraft
- NASA’s official website
- The Armstrong Flight Research Center
- University of Bergen’s official website
- NOAA’s Geostationary Environmental Satellite (GOES) Program
- NASA’s Tropical Rainfall Measurement Mission (TRMM)
