Chapter 21
Lightning
Lightning – an electrical discharge in the atmosphere
Lightning Facts
On average a lightning stroke is 5 km long and 2 to 3 cm in diameter
Approximately 100 lightning strokes occur on the Earth every second
The temperature of a lightning stroke is 30,000 deg C (this is 5 times
hotter than the surface of the Sun)
20 million cloud-to-ground lightning flashes occur in the US each year
Approximately 50 people are killed and 300 people are injured by
lightning each year in the United States
Types of lightning strokes:
In-cloud lightning
Cloud-to-cloud lightning
Cloud-to-ground lightning
What percent of lightning strokes are either in-cloud or cloud-to-cloud
strokes?
Where does lightning occur?
Average annual number of (total) lightning flashes per sq km worldwide
Number of cloud-to-ground lightning strikes per square km per year in the
10-yr period 1989-1998 in the U.S.
Electricity and Charge
Proton – positively charged particle
Electron – negatively charged particle
Ion – an atom with an unequal number of protons and electrons
Electrical current – movement of an electrical charge (typically due to the
movement of electrons)
An electric field is present in any region where positive and negative
charges exist.
A charge will experience attractive and repulsive forces in the presence of
an electric field.
Like charges repel and opposite charges attract.
The magnitude of this force is measured in volts (V).
The strength of the electric field is measured in volts / meter (V/m).
Fair Weather Electric Field
This is the background electric field
that exists in the lower atmosphere
In general the atmosphere is
positively charged and the surface of
the earth is negatively charged.
The strength of this fair weather
electric field is 100 V/m
Current will move easily through conductors (such as metal or water) and
will move poorly (or not at all) through insulators (such as air or plastic).
Charging Mechanisms in Thunderstorms
The electric field right before a lightning stroke is typically 3,000,000 V/m
How does a thunderstorm become charged so that lightning can occur?
• Interface charging (also called non-inductive charging)
• Induction charging
• Other methods may also be important for creating the electric
field in a thunderstorm
Both interface and induction charging typically cause ice crystals in a
thunderstorm to become positively charged and hail to become negatively
charged.
How do particles acquire charge?
Interface charging (also called non-inductive charging)
Graupel (like small hail) and hail stones grow by supercooled liquid water
freezing on them
What is this freezing process called?
How do ice crystals grow?
Due to the different formation, the electrons
on the surface of each particle are
distributed differently
When an ice crystal collides with a rimed ice
particle, charge can be transferred between
the two particles
What charge is acquired by ice crystals?
What charge is acquired by rimed particles?
Induction charging
This process is based on
collisions again, but now the
distribution of charge in each
particle is determined by the local
electric field
The charge will align itself in each
particle based on the ambient
electric field
In other words, the charge
distribution within the particle will
be induced by the ambient electric
field
What charge is acquired by ice
crystals?
What charge is acquired by rimed
particles?
Are there differences in how hail and ice crystals move through a
thunderstorm?
What is the charge distribution in and around a thunderstorm?
What types of
particles are
responsible for the
positive charge at
the top of a
thunderstorm?
What types of
particles are
responsible for the
negative charge
near the bottom of
a thunderstorm?
The Lightning Stroke
Stages of a CG Lightning Stroke
What magnitude electric field is required before lightning can occur?
Stepped leader – electrons moving towards the ground in a series of steps
Return stroke – occurs when downward moving electrons meet upward
moving positively charged atoms
This process can be repeated multiple times over the same path.
Dart leader – leader that occurs after the initial lightning flash
Thunder
What causes thunder?
How long does it take for the sound of thunder to travel 1 mile?
How can you estimate the distance to a lightning stroke?
Other phenomena associated with electrical discharges in the
atmosphere
Heat lightning – Lightning seen on a clear night that originates from a
thunderstorm so far off in the distance it cannot be seen or heard (the night
sky will just flash)
Sheet lightning – When lightning occur within or behind a cloud, illuminating
the exterior of the cloud uniformly. Appears like a sheet of light.
St. Elmo’s fire – When charge is accumulated on tips of objects extending
above the earth’s surface (antennas, ship masts). Produces small sparks
and sometimes a blusih green halo. Often a sign of an impending lightning
strike.
Sprites – One type of optical phenomena that occur between the tops of
thunderstorms and the mesosphere.
Lightning Safety
What should you do if a thunderstorm is approaching?
Go inside if possible
Stay away from electrical appliances and corded telephones
Avoid taking a shower or coming in contact with indoor water supplies
What should you do if you can’t go inside?
Crouch as close to the ground as possible and minimize the amount
of your body that is in contact with the ground by staying on your toes
or heels.
Do not go under trees (unless you are in a forest)
Do not lie on the ground
Remove metal objects if possible
A car with a metal frame is a very safe place in a thunderstorm.