Williams et al. (2022) questioned TGE electron energy spectra measured on Aragats; they conclude that “A more likely origin for any detected electrons at 3.2 km MSL is Compton scattering and pair production activated by longer-range bremsstrahlung gamma rays, themselves produced by runaway electron encounters with nuclei in breakeven field at higher altitude “. In this comment, we show that the selection criteria of “electron” TGEs unambiguously reject the assumption on the origination of TGE electrons from the Compton process of the TGE gamma rays. Additionally, comparison of recovered gamma ray and electron energy spectra allows to estimate the height of the strong accelerating electric field above particle spectrometers and establish 24/7 monitoring of the horizontal profile of the atmospheric electric field during thunderstorms.

We describe a new phenomenon in atmospheric physics – 222Rn progeny circulation during thunderstorms. The enhancement of the natural gamma radiation during thunderstorms was measured with precise gamma ray spectrometers. Results of measurements performed at Aragats mountain in Armenia during summer 2020 demonstrate the Rn progeny lifted to the atmosphere by a near-surface electric field are returned back to the ground by rain precipitation. Thus, thunderstorms not only return negative charge to the Earth by lightning flashes but, also maintain Rn progeny circulation in the atmosphere; it this way, significantly enlarging natural gamma radiation above the Earth surface and Radon concentration in the atmosphere.

We consider particle flux enhancements occurred during Winter months on Aragats. We demonstrate that these events are originated from Rodon and Thoron chain isotopes gamma radiation only. The relativistic runaway electron avalanche is possible on Aragats only in Spring-Autumn seasons. We measure with precise spectrometer the lines of most isotopes participated in the flux enhancement and use multidetector measurements for proving the origin of the particle flux.