Near-ground detection of atmospheric gamma rays associated with lightning

Data taken at 6-20 m above ground from March through June of 2002 was used to confirm that the background subtracted atmospheric gamma radiation (GRR) was directly related to precipitation rates. An anomalous increase in GRR (AGR) shortly after lightning strokes several times that expected from only the observed precipitation was concurrently observed at two sites separated by a distance of 220 m.