- #1
- 51
- 0
In which direction do current flow during lightning? If it is from cloud to earth, which charge gets accumulated in below part of the cloud?
Last edited:
Types
Some lightning strikes exhibit particular characteristics; scientists and the general public have given names to these various types of lightning. The lightning that is most-commonly observed is streak lightning. This is nothing more than the return stroke, the visible part of the lightning stroke. The majority of strokes occur inside a cloud so we do not see most of the individual return strokes during a thunderstorm.[citation needed]
Yes ... as the most common is cloud to cloud strokes some buried in the clouds some visible along the base of the cloud .... the most spectactular being the "Anvil Crawlers" that spread out in all directions.Cloud-to-Ground lightning Cloud-to-Ground is the best known and second most common type of lightning. Of all the different types of lightning, it poses the greatest threat to life and property since it strikes the ground. Cloud-to-ground (CG) lightning is a lightning discharge between a cumulonimbus cloud and the ground. It is initiated by a leader stroke moving down from the cloud.
Have caught this style on camera a number of times, mainly when the strike has been relatively close within 1 km (1000m)Bead lightning is a type of cloud-to-ground lightning which appears to break up into a string of short, bright sections, which last longer than the usual discharge channel. It is relatively rare. Several theories have been proposed to explain it; one is that the observer sees portions of the lightning channel end on, and that these portions appear especially bright. Another is that, in bead lightning, the width of the lightning channel varies; as the lightning channel cools and fades, the wider sections cool more slowly and remain visible longer, appearing as a string of beads.
Only seen photos, havent observed myself as yetRibbon lightning occurs in thunderstorms with high cross winds and multiple return strokes. The wind will blow each successive return stroke slightly to one side of the previous return stroke, causing a ribbon effect.[citation needed]
Staccato is always spectactular, making a great photo. I have watched complete storms and not seen a staccato strike, yet in another storm they have been commonStaccato lightning is a cloud-to-ground lightning (CG) strike which is a short-duration stroke that (often but not always) appears as a single very bright flash and often has considerable branching.[41] These are often found in the visual vault area near the mesocyclone of rotating thunderstorms and coincides with intensification of thunderstorm updrafts. A similar cloud-to-cloud strike consisting of a brief flash over a small area, appearing like a blip, also occurs in a similar area of rotating updrafts.
Not sure what to make of their comments on this one .... I really dont like that artificially initiated as it gives the impression that its man made. I have only captured 1 Ground to Cloud strike and it was NOT from any sort of tall man made structure. Tho many pix and videos I have see, that has been the case. The often are also inverted Staccato rather than a single channel strokeGround-to-cloud Ground to cloud lightning is an artificially initiated, or triggered, category of ground flashes. Triggered lightning goes from tall structures on the ground, such as towers on mountains, to clouds.[42]
why would you say that ? of course the path is completed and massive amounts of current flows in those brief milliseconds :)You know current will flow only when the path is complete and closed. In this case, that doesn't happen. Lightning dies after some time? Its not a complete or closed path. How can you tell that charges are flowing or current is flowing?
If you looked at any of the links provided by those that responded to you ..................which charge gets accumulated in below part of the cloud?
so its tells you that the main discharge is in the return stroke from the positively charged area to the negatively charged areaAs the field increases, the positive streamer may evolve into a hotter, higher current leader which eventually connects to the descending stepped leader from the cloud. It is also possible for many streamers to develop from many different objects simultaneously, with only one connecting with the leader and forming the main discharge path. Photographs have been taken on which non-connected streamers are clearly visible.[35]
Once a channel of ionized air is established between the cloud and ground this becomes a path of least resistance and allows for a much greater current to propagate from the Earth back up the leader into the cloud. This is the return stroke and it is the most luminous and noticeable part of the lightning discharge