Lightning

Lightning

The phenomenon of lightning seems simple, but yet intriguing. Lightning is the transfer of positive energy from the clouds to the ground. This might seem pretty simple, but it can get a little more complexe. Even scientist aren't quite sure how lightning works. One thing they now for sure perhaps is that their has to be a separation between the positive and the negative particles in the clouds. Ice also has to be formed in order to have lightning.  Since similar charges repeal each other, the negative negative charges then begin to spread out near the base of the cloud. At the same time, positive charges start to build underneath the storm. This region of positive charges travels underneath the cloud, almost like a shadow.

In a cloud-to-ground lightning Strike, the negative charges makes it path towards the ground. This occurrence is known as a stepped leader. The stepped leader continues towards the ground in a series of steps that are each about 50 to 100 metres in length. This stepped leader can branch out in many directions.  In response to the negative charges,  currents of positive charges start moving upwards from the ground. This is called the upward leader. When the stepped leader and the upward leader meet, usually between 30 to 100 metres above the ground, the negative charges begin to flow downward. Almost instantaneously, a much larger and luminous electric current shoots up to the cloud, following the path taken by the stepped leader. This is known as the return stroke, and it is also what we see in the sky that is known as lightning. This whole phenomenon occurs in less than a second which makes it look like lighting travels from the cloud to the ground when it is actually the other way around.