What Is Lightning?
Lightning is the natural electric discharge that occurs between two electrically charged regions, at least one of which is in a cloud. This can either occur between clouds (called sheet lightning) or between clouds and the ground (called cloud-to-ground lightning). Lightning is the main component of a thunderstorm, a common type of storm. There are an estimated 2000 different thunderstorms happening in the world at any one time.
Lightning, when it occurs, causes thunder, which is the reason the aforementioned storms are called thunderstorms. Thunder is the sound of lightning occurring. You can use the time between lightning and thunder to estimate how far away a thunderstorm is.
How Does Lightning Form?
Water vapour high in the atmosphere forms clouds, and when they reach a high enough elevation, they turn to ice. These ice particles collide with each other, and with water particles, becoming charged. Most of them are negatively charged, but some of them are positively charged. Some parts of the ground also end up positively charged. A negative charge and a positive charge will electronically “connect”, causing lightning.
Lightning also forms on Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune.
When Can One See Lightning?
Lightning can usually only be seen in stormy conditions. Thunderstorms are most common in the late afternoon and evening, and in the spring and summer.
How Common Is Lightning?
There will be approximately 100 lightning bolts hitting Earth every second.
Is Lightning Dangerous?
Absolutely. Thousands of people die from lightning strikes per year (statistics vary), with several times more being hospitalised.
