Total electron content measurements by using dual-frequency signals of global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) makes it possible to obtain the global distribution of electron density of ionosphere with high spatial and temporal resolution. Such high spatial and temporal resolution allows to explore of small-scale traveling ionospheric disturbances generated by terrestrial geophysical events, including seismic activity, solar terminator passage, and atmospheric cyclones. One of the features of measuring the total electron content of the ionosphere with GNSS is that the measurements are made at the line of intersection of the satellite-receiver beam with the layer of maximum ionization of the ionosphere at height of ≈ 300 km. At the same time, due to the orbital motion of the satellites and the Earth rotation, the ionospheric points at which the measurements are providing carrying out a movement relative to each other, relative to the Earth and relative to the traveling ionospheric disturbances. Such a relative motion of the measurement points causes the occurrence of the Doppler effect and leads to a distortion of the wave parameters of the total electron content variations. In particular, the determination of the period of traveling ionospheric wave disturbances on the basis of time series leads to large distortions depending on the used satellite, the time and coordinates of the receiver. This paper describes a method for determining the exact wave parameters –frequency, wavelength, and propagation velocity of traveling ionospheric wave disturbances, based on the use of godochrones to analyze TEC variations. The difference between the wave parameters measured by the proposed method and from the time series of TEC data is shown on an example of wave disturbances generated by the passage of solar terminator.

We report the observation results of the hard radiation flashes which accompanied the lightning discharges above the mountains of Northern Tien Shan. Time series of the counting rate intensity, numerical estimations of absolute flux, and energy distribution of accelerated electrons and of (20-2000) keV gamma rays were obtained at the height of 3700 m a. s. l., immediately within thunderclouds, and in closest vicinity (less than or similar to 100 m) to discharge region. Two different kinds of radiation emission events are presented here: a relatively prolonged rise of gamma ray intensity with minute-scale duration (the thunderstorm ground enhancement, TGE) which has preceded a negative field variation, and a short sub-millisecond radiation burst, which accompanied a close lightning discharge in thundercloud. It was revealed also an indication to positron generation in thunderclouds at the time of gamma ray emission, as well as modulation of the neutron counting rate in Tien Shan neutron monitor which was operating at a (1.5-2) km order distance from the region of lightning development.

The results of the study of variations in the intensity of slow neutrons at the high-altitude Tien-Shan cosmic ray station (3340 m above sea level, 20 km from Almaty) are presented. The effect of cosmic and geophysical events on the flux of thermal and epithermal neutrons was successively analyzed. The comparison was made with well-known variations of high-energy neutrons of galactic origin recorded by the 18NM64 monitor. Like the 18NM64 neutron monitor, the installation for detecting thermal and epithermal neutrons is located near the Zailiysky fault of the earth's crust. It has been established that, in the absence of seismic activity, the variations of thermal neutrons on the earth's surface are of the same nature as the high-energy neutrons recorded by the monitor 18NM64. However, during the activation of seismic activity, the frequent breakdown of the correlation between the intensity of thermal and high-energy neutrons was noted. The cause of this phenomenon is the additional thermal neutron flux of the lithospheric origin, which appears under these conditions. It is shown that the amplitude of the additional thermal neutron flux from the Earth's crust is equal to 5-7% of the background level. A difference was found also in the spectral composition of variations of slow and high-energy neutrons in the range (2.10(-7) divided by 2.10(-6)) Hz. Variations, due to the gravitational influence of the moon, are present throughout the 12-year period of research of thermal neutrons. The amplitude and its dynamics were determined. The analysis of our catalog of earthquakes in the vicinity of Almaty with an intensity of >= 3 points showed that similar to 65 divided by 70% of these events occurred during the full moon or new moon.

Simultaneous registration of electromagnetic emission generated by atmospheric lightning discharges in the radio-frequency (f = 0.1-30 MHz), infrared (lambda = 610-800 nm), ultraviolet (lambda = 240-380 nm), and in the soft energy gamma-radiation (E-gamma = 0.1-4 MeV) ranges of electromagnetic spectrum was made synchronously in mountain conditions with complex detector system of the Tien Shan High -Mountain Cosmic Ray Station. We discuss preliminary results of these measurements and perspectives of future application of the multispectral investigation technique to study of the effects of thunderstorm activity.

Energetic radiation during thunderstorms is studied. The possibility to identify the high-energy lightning emission in the 10 s monitoring mode is demonstrated. Simultaneous measurements of gamma-ray emission, high-energy electrons, and neutron radiation in the triggering mode are fulfilled. Energy spectra of gamma emission and electrons are obtained. The intensity both of electrons and gamma rays in lightning discharge prevail the background emission by 1.5 to 2 orders of magnitude.

The time structure of neutron count rate enhancement during thunderstorm is studied. The enhancements take place during the time of atmospheric discharge. Significant part of neutrons is emitted in short bursts (200–400μs). Sometimes the emission is well correlated over the space scale 1km. Short burst width enables us to suppose that neutrons are generated mainly in a dense medium (probably soil).