Lightning strikes are one of the most awe-inspiring and terrifying natural phenomena that occur on our planet. They can be beautiful to watch from a distance but also deadly and destructive up close. In this article, we will explore the science behind lightning strikes, their effects on human life and property, as well as some safety tips to keep in mind during thunderstorms.
What causes lightning?
Lightning is an electrical discharge that occurs when there is an imbalance between positive and negative charges in the atmosphere. It usually happens within clouds or between the cloud and the ground.
Most of us have seen static electricity at work – for example, when you rub your feet on a carpeted floor and then touch something metal, you get a shock. Lightning works similarly but on a much larger scale.
In thunderstorms, water droplets move upwards through warm air currents while ice particles fall downwards due to gravity. This creates friction which separates electric charges – positively charged ions gather at the top of the storm cloud while negatively charged ones accumulate at its bottom.
When these charges become large enough, they create what’s called an electric field which ionizes air molecules along its path leading to an electrical discharge – lightning!
Types of lightning
There are four main types of lightning:
1) Intra-cloud (IC) lightning – this is when lightning strikes within a cloud itself
2) Cloud-to-cloud (CC) lightning – this type occurs between two different clouds
3) Cloud-to-ground (CG) lighting – this type hits the ground after originating from a cloud
4) Ground-to-cloud (GC) lightning – this type originates from somewhere on earth’s surface before striking into a storm cloud
Of these four types, CG lighting is by far the most dangerous because it can hit people directly causing serious injury or even death.
Effects of Lightning Strikes
According to National Geographic statistics every year approximately 240 000 people around are struck by lighting globally. While most survive, some are not so lucky.
Lightning can cause a wide range of effects from minor burns and temporary blindness to heart attacks, brain damage or even death. It can also start fires which can be catastrophic in dry areas such as forests or grasslands.
In addition to its human toll, lightning also causes significant damage to infrastructure and property. For example, it can knock out power lines causing blackouts that affect entire cities for days or destroy buildings by starting fires.
Safety Tips During Thunderstorms
During thunderstorm events there are several safety tips you should always remember:
1) Stay indoors – This is the safest place to be during a storm. If you’re outside and cannot get inside immediately, avoid open fields, high ground and metal objects like bicycles or golf clubs which attract lightning more than other objects.
2) Avoid water – Swimming pools, lakes or any other body of water must be avoided during thunderstorms since water is an excellent conductor of electricity increasing the chances of being struck by lighting
3) Avoid electronics – Electrical appliances such as televisions, computers etc should not be used during storms because if they are plugged into an outlet at the time of the strike they could short out causing permanent damages
4) Use surge protectors- You may plug your electronic devices into a surge protector to prevent electrical surges from damaging them in case there’s sudden increase in voltage due to nearby lightning strikes
5) Wait 30 minutes after last heard clap before going back outdoors – After hearing last clap wait for about 30 minutes before heading back outside just in case there’s another bolt coming close behind.
Conclusion
Thunderstorms are awe-inspiring natural events that bring with them beautiful yet dangerous displays of nature’s power. With proper knowledge and preparation however one can stay safe while still enjoying these amazing experiences. By following the safety tips discussed above we hope you will remain secure and protected next time a storm rolls in.