#CURRENT LIGHTNING STRIKES PLUS#
#CURRENT LIGHTNING STRIKES SERIES#

If you look closely, you can also see an upward leader coming from the tree that did not connect (indicated by the red arrow). In the above photo of lightning hitting a tree, the stepped leader has connected with the upward leader that came from the tree. There are usually three to four subsequent strokes on average, but the number can be as high as over twenty. If it takes a different path, it can appear to dance. When the lightning follows the same path, it appears to flicker. After the initial strongest stroke, weaker strokes can follow which usually, but not always, follow the same path as the initial stroke. The video at normal speed lasts less than one second, faster than the naked eye can follow all the steps involved.Ī lightning strike, or lightning flash, usually comprises more than one stroke of lightning. In the video above, you can see many paths that the lightning wants to take, but it finds only one. This entire process occurs so quickly (in less than one second) that lightning appears to travel from the cloud to the ground, when the opposite is true. This is called the return stroke and is what we see in the sky as lightning. Almost immediately, a much larger and luminous electric current shoots up to the cloud, following the path taken by the stepped 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. In response to the discharge of negative charges coming from the cloud base, currents of positive charges called streamers or upward leaders start moving upward from the ground, usually along elevated objects.

The stepped leader can branch out in many directions.

#CURRENT LIGHTNING STRIKES SERIES#

The stepped leader continues towards the ground in a series of steps that are each about 50 to 100 metres in length.

#CURRENT LIGHTNING STRIKES PLUS#

The image below shows positive charges as red plus symbols and negative charges as blue minus symbols.Ī cloud-to-ground lightning strike starts as a channel of negative charges called a stepped leader makes its path towards the ground. The positive charges tend to concentrate on tall objects, like trees, poles and buildings. This region of positive charges travels underneath the cloud, almost like a shadow. At the same time, positive charges start to build underneath the storm. Since similar-charged objects repel each other and opposite-charged objects attract each other, negative charges begin to spread out near the base of the cloud. This allows electric fields to form and grow between the cloud and the ground and within the cloud itself - all necessary conditions for lightning to occur. Negative charges gather near the base of the cloud, while positive charges build in the top of the cloud. The turbulent wind environment of a thunderstorm with its updrafts and downdrafts is an ideal environment to separate electric charges. Scientists also agree that a developing storm must produce ice for it to form lightning. However, scientists agree that positive and negative charges must separate within a cloud for lightning to take place. There is still some debate in the scientific community about how the electrification of clouds occurs.

Current lightning strikes