Lightning Cumulonimbus Clouds A majority of lightning occurs

Lightning

Cumulonimbus Clouds

• A majority of lightning occurs in the storm cloud itself and only 10 to 20 percent of all lightning reaches the ground. • The air around a lightning strike is typically superheated to about 20, 000 degrees Celsius or over 3 times hotter than the surface of the sun • A tall thunderstorm cloud can hold over a 100 million volts of potential.

• An average lightning strike discharges about 30, 000 amperes. • Lightning can and does strike the same place twice. On average lightning strikes the Empire State Building in New York City (USA) about 100 times every year. 49 strikes have been recorded in a single day • A finger of charge called a positive streamer can reach upwards from the ground 15 to 50 metres in an attempt to join stepped leaders from a storm cloud. This normally happens just before a lightning strike.

Positive Streamers

This is NOT the time to get a picture!

What we should not do in a lightning storm - Be out in an open area (you are the tallest object around) - An umbrella won’t help! - A tree won’t either!

What not to do in a lightning storm continued Be in a boat! Swimming in water!

What not to do in a lightning storm continued Stay away from metal objects – such as fences

What not to do in a lightning storm continued - Do not be connected to the metal frame of your car! - Do not wash dishes, take bathes, showers during a thunderstorm! -Do not talk on a corded phone!

Airplanes and Lightning

Lightning Rods •

Lightning and Tornadoes

Lightning and Volcanoes

Short Videos http: //video. nationalgeographic. com/video/101 -videos/lightning http: //www. discovery. com/tvshows/curiosity/videos/lightening-strike. htm http: //video. pbs. org/video/1615154986/