Heights of generation of runaway electrons in bright cosmic ray events observed on the ground during thunderstorms

The brightest events with enhancements of the intensity of the soft component of secondary cosmic rays observed during thunderstorms in the Baksan Valley are analyzed. These experimental data were obtained during thunderstorm seasons of 2003-2008. Assuming bremsstrahlung photons from cascades of runaway electrons to be the main source of the enhancements, the height of generation level is estimated for every event. It is shown that for a half of all events the region of particle generation is located in the stratosphere.