Massive lightning bolt observed: Satellites verify a 515-mile long electrical discharge in the sky
In a groundbreaking discovery, scientists have used satellites equipped with lightning mappers to measure a megaflash lightning bolt that stretched an unprecedented 515 miles from Texas to Missouri in 2017 [1][3][4]. This record-breaking length surpassed the previous title holder by 38 miles [1].
Megaflash lightning occurs when large, expansive storm clouds, often in the outer or weaker parts of long-lived, massive thunderstorms, become extensively charged, allowing lightning to travel horizontally over extraordinary distances [1][3]. These events are facilitated by broad, flat cloud layers that enable electrical charge to conduct across them, creating ideal conditions for such extensive horizontal discharges [1].
Key factors contributing to megaflash formation include the presence of broad, electrified stratiform cloud regions trailing large storm systems (such as cold fronts), which provide a shallow conductive layer allowing long-range horizontal charge propagation [1][3]. These flashes tend to occur not in the storm’s intense core but in its expansive, trailing cloud regions that cover thousands of square miles [1][3].
The analysis of data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's GOES-16 satellite was instrumental in determining the length of the record-holding megaflash [3][4]. The GOES-16 satellite, equipped with a lightning mapper, observes about one million bolts per day [5]. This technology has substantially improved the detection, measurement, and understanding of megaflash events by allowing continuous, wide-area observation from above the storms [3][4][5].
Randy Cerveny, an Arizona State University professor, contributed to the study and stated that it is likely that even greater extremes of megaflash lightning still exist and will be observable as more high-quality lightning measurements accumulate over time [1]. This discovery underscores the importance of continued research and advancements in satellite technology for unveiling the mysteries of the natural world.
References:
[1] National Geographic
[2] The Weather Channel
[3] Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society
[4] American Meteorological Society
[5] NOAA
In the study, researchers critically analyzed weather data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) GOES-16 satellite to accurately measure the record-breaking megaflash lightning event [3][4]. The continuous observation of over one million lightning bolts per day via the satellite's lightning mapper has significantly advanced the understanding and detection of megaflash lightning events [5].
