Exploring Thunder Phenomena: The Triggering of Lightning and the Reason Behind Booms
During a thunderstorm, seeking shelter in a solid building or a car is recommended, as they provide a so-called Faraday cage. But have you ever wondered about the science behind lightning?
A recent study sheds light on this fascinating phenomenon, providing a detailed explanation of how lightning is generated in thunderclouds.
The process begins with cosmic rays, which produce initial relativistic electrons in the upper atmosphere. These electrons enter the thundercloud's intense electric field and gain energy, accelerating rapidly.
When these high-energy electrons collide with air molecules such as nitrogen and oxygen, they emit X-rays and knock out additional electrons from those molecules. This sets off a chain reaction known as an electron avalanche, rapidly multiplying the electrons and high-energy photons inside the cloud.
The multiplication of these energetic electrons and emitted X-rays ultimately creates conditions that initiate a lightning discharge. This explanation provides the currently understood mechanism linking electric fields, electron avalanches, and X-rays inside thunderclouds, addressing a longstanding mystery about lightning initiation.
In addition to understanding the science behind lightning, it's important to know how to stay safe during a thunderstorm. If you're outdoors, it's advisable to keep a distance from trees, antennas, fences, and bodies of water, avoid exposed points, and crouch in a depression if necessary.
Lightning carries immense amounts of energy, making it dangerous not only to humans but also to technical systems like wind turbines, railway systems, and high-voltage lines. Scientists observe thunderstorms using ground sensors, satellites, and lab experiments to generate artificial lightning and understand the exact processes, essential for building lightning-proof technology.
Interestingly, not every lightning strike hits the ground; many discharges remain within the cloud. And did you know that the particular smell before a thunderstorm is caused by petrichor, a mixture of substances plants release during dry periods?
Finally, it's worth noting that the phenomenon of lightning generation in nature has been explained quantitatively for the first time by a study, which Pasko named "Photoelectric Feedback Discharge." This study provides a precise explanation of how lightning is generated in thunderclouds through a complex chain reaction.
The recent study on lightning initiation in thunderclouds uncovers a detailed process involving cosmic rays, electron avalanches, and X-rays within the climate-change dynamics of the environment. Remaining safe during weather events like thunderstorms necessitates staying indoors and avoiding outdoor exposures, due to the environmental-science implications of lightning's immense energy.
