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Lightning is a natural phenomenon formed by electrostatic discharges through the atmosphere between two electrically charged regions, either both in the atmosphere or one in the atmosphere and one on the ground, temporarily neutralizing these in a near-instantaneous release of an average of between 200 megajoules and 7 gigajoules of energy, depending on the type.
The potential difference between the ionosphere and the Earth is maintained by thunderstorms, with lightning strikes delivering negative charges from the atmosphere to the ground. World map showing frequency of lightning strikes, in flashes per km 2 per year (equal-area projection).
There are about 40,000 thunderstorms per day, generating roughly 100 lightning strikes per second, [1] which can be thought to charge the earth like a battery. Thunderstorms generate an electrical potential difference between the earth's surface and the ionosphere, mainly by means of lightning returning current to ground. Because of this, the ...
Essentially, lightning occurs due to the buildup of electric charges in the atmosphere. In order to balance out the different charges, lightning is triggered between two clouds or between a cloud ...
A lightning strike or lightning bolt is a lightning event in which the electric discharge takes place between the atmosphere and the ground. Most originate in a cumulonimbus cloud and terminate on the ground, called cloud-to-ground (CG) lightning.
Similar to the famous Miller-Urey experiment in 1953, the team simulated the conditions of early Earth in a laboratory, and studied the chemical reactions when simulated lightning strikes struck ...
When the higher levels of the atmosphere are cooler, and the surface is thus warmed to extreme temperatures due to a wildfire, volcano, or other event, convection will occur, and produce clouds and lightning. They are similar to any cumulus cloud but ingest extra particulates from the fire. This increases the voltage difference between the base ...
Consequently, the current from a strike merely "passes" through the wrapped tube, through the wings and leave the plane. h/t Lonely Planet RELATED: Foods you should never eat on an airplane