Lightning Science Information Resources
Lightning was a mystery until recently. We now understand the science behind lightning.
In ancient times, it was thought to have many different meanings in each society; from showing the anger of the Gods in Africa to being a sign of luck to English sailors. Lightning was magical and mysterious to everyone before humans developed the means and technology to understand what lightning is and why it occurs.
Lightning is a term used to describe the flash of light that occurs when electrons found within clouds attract ions from the ground. This flash of light is full of electricity and can be extremely dangerous. A single lightning strike can reach approximately 5 miles in length with a temperature of 50,000 degrees Fahrenheit.
Though the chance of being struck by lightning is about 1 in 3,000 in a person’s entire lifetime, the unlucky that are struck can suffer serious consequences including death. About 58 people are killed by lightning every year while it is estimated that during the same time frame, there are anywhere from 700 to 5,000 lightning related injuries, many of which are very serious. To avoid becoming a victim it is important to understand the science behind lightning, know what to look for and how to avoid it.
The formation of lightning begins long before it is ever seen as a flash in the sky. The process begins in the clouds. Both electrons (negatively charged electric particles) and protons (positively charged particles) fill the clouds as a final result of the completion of the water cycle. Negative particles fill the lower part of the cloud while the positive particles occupy the top half of a cloud. When separation of these particles occur, through freezing or rising air, an electrical current is created. This electrical current causes the air around the cloud to neutralize which then allows the electrical charge to travel through this air down to the earth. The Earth is positively charged and when the two currents meet, a powerful electric current is created. This electricity is followed by a flash of light which is the only way most people identify lightning.
Though many people refer to all lightning with the same simple term, there are actually three different types of lightning. These types include cloud-to-ground, intra-cloud and inter-cloud lightning. Cloud to ground is the most dangerous and damaging, while intra-cloud is the most common and inter-cloud is the most rare. Each type involves the same process but in different areas of the cloud which can have lead to a difference in striking areas and severity. Just as there are different types of lightning there are major varieties in the type of lightning bolt that is created. Some may appear as jagged and crooked lines as with forked lightning and some area seen only as flashes of light that light up the entire sky which is known as sheet lightning. Other types include “heat lightning” which is seen in clear summer skies, St. Elmo’s Fire lightning where the lightning appears to have a blue or even green hue or glow, high-altitude lightning that appears as brightly colored flashes and the most rare of all, ball lightning, in which lightning appears to occur as a small glowing ball in the sky. All of these forms are dangerous to humans and it is best to avoid being outside in the event of any storm involving lightning. A good way to tell how far away lightning is, is to count how many seconds it takes to hear thunder after seeing a lightning strike. Every five seconds is approximately one mile away. This means that if it takes twenty seconds to hear thunder, the storm is somewhere around four miles away, however lightning can strike approximately ten miles away from a storm so it is always best to be located in doors during a storm.
Seeking shelter in the event of lightning is always the best option when it comes to protection. Good shelters include a house or a car. Once inside, it is still safest to avoid water and all electrical equipment such as telephones or televisions. If it is not possible to get to shelter during a storm, avoiding water, highly elevated areas such as mountains or tall hills, metal objects and trees will be the best form of protection. In the instance that a person does get struck by lightning, it is possible to survive. Medical attention is required immediately but even with treatment, some victims will not survive or will suffer lifelong injuries and damages to the body. Many of those that have survived a lightning strike were reportedly outside during the time of the accident which again, stresses the importance of adequate shelter. Survivors often report a combination of memory loss, burn marks, headaches, hearing loss, insomnia and severe nerve damage. Many of these survivors never fully recover from their injuries and sadly some of them prove that there is no truth to the myth that “lightning never strikes the same place twice”.
The Science Behind Lightning Information Resources
- Lightning Basics: Everything about lightning broken down. What is it? How is it created? What are the types of lightning?
- Lightning and Thunder: A look at the relation between lightning and thunder and the scientific connection between both.
- Lightning- FAQ: A large list of questions and answers regarding everything scientifically related to lightning.
Lightning Media and Educational Resources
- Super Sparker: An activity where children can create their own tiny lightning strikes to understand the process of lightning.
- Make Lightning: Various activities that include the creation of lightning in the classroom.
- Lightning Video: A video showing lightning in action and tips on how to recognize and avoid it.
Lightning Survivors
- Survival Stories: A table including the locations and injuries of those whom have survived lightning strikes.
See Educational Articles for other information relevant to shade structures.
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