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Lightning is a natural phenomenon, more specifically an atmospheric electrical phenomenon. It consists of electrostatic discharges occurring through the atmosphere between two electrically charged regions, either both existing within the atmosphere or one within the atmosphere and one on the ground, with these regions then becoming partially or wholly electrically neutralized.
A thunderbolt or lightning bolt is a symbolic representation of lightning when accompanied by a loud thunderclap. In Indo-European mythology, the thunderbolt was identified with the 'Sky Father' ; this association is also found in later Hellenic representations of Zeus and Vedic descriptions of the vajra wielded by the god Indra .
Thunderstorms are commonly depicted as the rage of the deity which is associated with it.. Polytheistic peoples from many cultures have postulated a thunder god, the personification or source of the forces of thunder and lightning; a lightning god does not have a typical depiction, and will vary based on the culture.
A lightning strike or lightning bolt is a lightning event in which an 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.
Lightning strikes over One World Trade Center, center right, during a thunderstorm seen from The Heights neighborhood of Jersey City, N.J., Sunday, June 2, 2013.
Lightning injuries are divided into direct strikes, side splash, contact injury, and ground current. [1] Ground current occurs when the lightning strikes nearby and travels to the person through the ground. [1] Side splash makes up about a third of cases and occurs when lightning strikes nearby and jumps through the air to the person. [1]
The Scottish Gaelic word beithir has been defined variously as "serpent", "lightning", and "thunderbolt". [1] [2] [3] It is also referred to as beithir-nimh ("venomous serpent") [4] and nathair ("serpent" and "adder"). [5] The word may also mean "wild beast" and may be derived from the Norse for "bear" according to Celtic mythology scholar ...
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