the image is unmistakable lightning is
one of the most incredible natural
phenomenons and one that scientists are
still learning about it’s a common
occurrence during summer when the heat
of the day is broken by strokes of
lightning worldwide it’s estimated
lightning occurs 50 to 100 times a
second the greatest concentrations of
lightning strikes are in Central Africa
the Himalayas and South America
lightning is often seen flashing between
storm clouds in the earth the bursts of
light are pure electricity scientists
don’t fully agree on what actually
causes the electrical charge to be
dispersed but it is generally thought
that lightning often occurs within the
down drafts and updrafts of
thunderstorms lighter particles moving
toward the top of clouds become
positively charged while heavier
particles heading toward the bottom
become negatively charged when the
positive and negative charges grow large
enough lightning is released between
these regions most of the lightning
takes place within the cloud but some
strikes the earth in bold flashes in
these cases the charge escapes the cloud
making a branching path that reaches for
the ground the energy of the lightning
strike contains hundreds of millions of
volts and lasts only a fraction of a
second what seems to be a single flash
is actually a series of return strokes
of electrical energy reaching back up
into the clouds the path reaches
temperatures of around 50,000 degrees
Fahrenheit this extreme heat creates the
booming thunderclap as excessive
pressure within the lightning path
expands at supersonic rates on return
strokes in the u.s. lightning occurs
most often in Florida it’s hot moist
climate is perfect for creating thunder
clouds which produce lightning
but lightning is a deadly natural
phenomenon taking nearly 100 lives a
year on average in the u.s. more than
hurricanes or tornadoes during
electrical storms experts warn that
people should seek shelter inside a
building or hardtop automobiles and if
caught in the open avoid high ground and
isolated trees lightning is a powerful
force of nature and one to be cautious
of
one of the most incredible natural
phenomenons and one that scientists are
still learning about it’s a common
occurrence during summer when the heat
of the day is broken by strokes of
lightning worldwide it’s estimated
lightning occurs 50 to 100 times a
second the greatest concentrations of
lightning strikes are in Central Africa
the Himalayas and South America
lightning is often seen flashing between
storm clouds in the earth the bursts of
light are pure electricity scientists
don’t fully agree on what actually
causes the electrical charge to be
dispersed but it is generally thought
that lightning often occurs within the
down drafts and updrafts of
thunderstorms lighter particles moving
toward the top of clouds become
positively charged while heavier
particles heading toward the bottom
become negatively charged when the
positive and negative charges grow large
enough lightning is released between
these regions most of the lightning
takes place within the cloud but some
strikes the earth in bold flashes in
these cases the charge escapes the cloud
making a branching path that reaches for
the ground the energy of the lightning
strike contains hundreds of millions of
volts and lasts only a fraction of a
second what seems to be a single flash
is actually a series of return strokes
of electrical energy reaching back up
into the clouds the path reaches
temperatures of around 50,000 degrees
Fahrenheit this extreme heat creates the
booming thunderclap as excessive
pressure within the lightning path
expands at supersonic rates on return
strokes in the u.s. lightning occurs
most often in Florida it’s hot moist
climate is perfect for creating thunder
clouds which produce lightning
but lightning is a deadly natural
phenomenon taking nearly 100 lives a
year on average in the u.s. more than
hurricanes or tornadoes during
electrical storms experts warn that
people should seek shelter inside a
building or hardtop automobiles and if
caught in the open avoid high ground and
isolated trees lightning is a powerful
force of nature and one to be cautious
of
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