Bursts in the 1 GeV ÷ 1 TeV energy range by ground based experiments

Ground based experiments as extensive air shower arrays can observe 1÷10 GeV Gamma-Ray Bursts using the ”single particle” technique. The sensitivity to detect a GRB as a function of the burst parameters and the detector characteristics are discussed. The rate of possible observations is evaluated, making reasonable assumptions on the high energy emission, the absorption of gammarays in the intergalactic space, the distribution of the sources in the universe and the bursts luminosity function. We show that a large area detector located at high mountain altitude has good prospects for positive detections, providing useful informations on the high energy component