Where does a lightning originate?

When and where does lightning most frequently strike? Lightning comes from a parent cumulonimbus cloud. These thunderstorm clouds are formed wherever there is enough upward air motion, convective instability, and moisture to produce a deep cloud that reaches up to levels colder than freezing.

What is the source of light in lightning?

The heat given off by the flow of electrons makes the surrounding air molecules explosively expand, causing a flash of light and a shock wave (thunder). As my previous post on lightning noted, those lights are spectacular electric sparks.

Where is the thunder and lightning coming from?

The loud thunder that follows the lightning bolt is commonly said to come from the bolt itself. However, the grumbles and growls we hear in thunderstorms actually come from the rapid expansion of the air surrounding the lightning bolt.

What is the polarity of lightning?

The terms positive and negative refer to the polarity of the lightning strike. Typically, lightning transfers a negative charge from cloud to ground. A negatively charged lightning bolt typically carries ~300M volts and 30,000 amps.

Where does lightning strike the most in India?

Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, Jharkhand have witnessed the maximum lightning strikes. However, Bihar (401), Uttar Pradesh (238), Madhya Pradesh (228) lead the charts in terms of deaths due to lightning. The three states account for more than 53\% of deaths due to lightning.

How is heat lightning created?

Many people incorrectly believe that heat lightning is a specific type of lightning. In reality, it is just light produced by a distant thunderstorm. The light is then reflected off of higher-level clouds allowing it to be seen from great distances.

How can you tell if a lightning strike is positive or negative?

Positive lightning is usually composed of one stroke, while negative lightning often has two or more strokes. Winter storms produce a higher percentage of positive lightning strikes, compared with summer storms.

Where do lightning strikes occur most frequently?

The most lightning-struck location in the world Lake Maracaibo in Venezuela is the place on Earth that receives the most lightning strikes. Massive thunderstorms occur on 140-160 nights per year with an average of 28 lightning strikes per minute lasting up to 10 hours at a time.

Where do lightning usually strike?

Often lightning occurs between clouds or inside a cloud. But the lightning we usually care about most is the lightning that goes from clouds to ground—because that’s us! As the storm moves over the ground, the strong negative charge in the cloud attracts positive charges in the ground.

How does lightning occur in Indian Express?

An enormous amount of heat is produced, and this leads to the heating of the air column between the two layers of the cloud. This heat gives the air column a reddish appearance during lightning. As the heated air column expands, it produces shock waves that result in thunder.