Lightning

Definition

Lightning is a powerful electrical discharge that occurs during thunderstorms, resulting from the buildup and discharge of electrical energy within clouds or between clouds and the ground. It is a key component of the Earth's atmospheric electricity and plays a significant role in the global electric circuit, while also being associated with phenomena like sprites and other upper atmospheric discharges.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Lightning can reach temperatures of approximately 30,000 Kelvin (about 53,540 degrees Fahrenheit), making it hotter than the surface of the sun.
2. There are different types of lightning, including intra-cloud lightning, cloud-to-ground lightning, and inter-cloud lightning, each occurring in different contexts within thunderstorms.
3. The global electric circuit is sustained by lightning strikes that help to balance the electric charge in the atmosphere, acting as a natural form of electric discharge.
4. Sprites and other upper atmospheric discharges occur at altitudes of 30 to 90 kilometers and are often triggered by the electromagnetic effects of nearby thunderstorms.
5. Lightning is responsible for causing wildfires, power outages, and can even result in fatalities when it strikes people or structures directly.

Review Questions

• How does lightning contribute to the global electric circuit and why is this important for atmospheric processes?
  • Lightning plays a crucial role in maintaining the balance of electric charge in the atmosphere by acting as a natural discharge mechanism. Each strike contributes to the global electric circuit by transferring energy from the clouds to the ground, which helps regulate atmospheric electrical activity. This process is important for weather patterns and influences phenomena like thunderstorm development, making lightning a vital component of atmospheric dynamics.
• Discuss the differences between various types of lightning and how they relate to storm development.
  • Different types of lightning include intra-cloud, cloud-to-ground, and inter-cloud lightning, each forming under specific conditions within thunderstorms. Intra-cloud lightning occurs within a single cloud and is often seen as flickering light, while cloud-to-ground lightning strikes from clouds directly to the Earth. Inter-cloud lightning happens between different clouds. Understanding these types helps meteorologists predict storm behavior and severity, enhancing safety measures during severe weather events.
• Evaluate the significance of sprites in understanding atmospheric electricity and their relationship with traditional lightning phenomena.
  • Sprites are significant because they provide insights into the complex interactions between thunderstorms and upper atmospheric electrical activity. Their occurrence high above storms illustrates how traditional lightning phenomena can influence conditions at various altitudes. By studying sprites alongside typical lightning, researchers can gain a deeper understanding of electrical processes in the atmosphere, revealing how energy is transferred not just locally but across larger distances in the upper atmosphere.

Related terms

Thunderstorm: A weather system characterized by the presence of thunder, lightning, and often heavy rain, resulting from strong upward air currents that cause moisture to condense and release energy.

Electric Field: A region around charged particles where they exert electric forces on other charged objects, influencing the formation of lightning as charges accumulate within clouds.

Sprites: Transient luminous events occurring high above thunderstorms, appearing as brief flashes of red or blue light, typically caused by electrical discharges in the upper atmosphere.