Wind-induced natural gamma radiation

A. Alikhanyan National Lab (Yerevan Physics Institute) - Yerevan AM0036, Armenia

Received: 11 March 2025
Accepted: 17 June 2025

Abstract

During extreme weather conditions in the fall of 2024 at Mount Aragats, Natural Gamma Radiation (NGR) levels surged by more than 1000%, with a total fluence of 2  ×  10⁷ gamma/cm² recorded over 10 hours. The corresponding dose reached 3.26 mSv —approximately 120 times higher than the seasonal background level. This unprecedented enhancement occurred during strong, dry snowstorms under subzero temperatures, in the absence of thunderstorm-related electric fields. The observed gamma-ray intensities significantly exceed those explainable by known atmospheric mechanisms such as relativistic electron avalanches or radon exhalation alone. We propose that these enhancements, which we call Wind-induced Gamma-ray Enhancements (WiGERs), are caused by dense radioactive clouds formed when electrified snow and aerosols mobilize radon progeny and keep them suspended near sensitive detectors. These findings indicate that similar radiation surges may occur in high-altitude and polar environments, such as the Arctic and Antarctic, where strong winds and extended snowstorms are common. Understanding the origin and persistence of WiGERs is crucial for enhancing radiation background models, refining atmospheric ionization forecasts, and assessing environmental and climatic impacts during extreme winter weather events.