What causes lightning and thunder?

Introduction

Lightning and thunder are natural phenomena that have fascinated and puzzled humans for centuries. Lightning is a powerful electrical discharge, while thunder is the sound produced by the rapid expansion of air surrounding the lightning channel. Understanding the causes of these phenomena involves exploring both physical and chemical processes in the atmosphere.

Key Insights

Thermal Expansion Theory:
- Thunder is traditionally thought to be caused by the rapid thermal expansion of air due to the intense heat generated by lightning, which can reach temperatures of up to 30,000 K. This sudden expansion creates a shockwave that we hear as thunder.
Chemical Explosion Theory:
- Some research suggests that thunder results from a chemical explosion of air, driven by the liberation of chemical bond energy from nitrogen (N₂) and oxygen (O₂) molecules. Laboratory experiments with air arcs of lightning strength have confirmed this theory.
Electrodynamic Forces:
- Experiments with short atmospheric arcs of lightning strength indicate that the shockwave associated with thunder may be driven by electrodynamic forces rather than thermal expansion. These forces include the Lorentz pinch force, the longitudinal Ampere force, and the alpha-torque force of Ampere-Neumann electrodynamics.
Charge Separation Mechanism:
- Lightning is caused by the separation of electrical charges within a thunderstorm. This separation is facilitated by the freezing of water to form ice crystals, which creates an electrical gradient. The smaller, positively charged ice fragments are carried upward, while the larger, negatively charged cores remain at the bottom of the storm.
Forest Fire Influence:
- Thunderclouds formed as a result of forest fires may exhibit unusual electrification patterns. These clouds can produce positive cloud-to-ground lightning instead of the usual negative type, due to the release of negative charge into the atmosphere during the burning process.
Historical and Cultural Perspectives:
- Historically, lightning has been viewed as a divine tool or a manifestation of anger by gods, such as Zeus in ancient Greek mythology. This cultural perspective highlights the longstanding human fascination with lightning and thunder.

Conclusion

The causes of lightning and thunder are multifaceted, involving both physical and chemical processes. While the traditional view attributes thunder to the rapid thermal expansion of air heated by lightning, alternative theories suggest chemical explosions and electrodynamic forces as potential contributors. Additionally, the separation of electrical charges within thunderstorms and the influence of external factors like forest fires play crucial roles in the formation of lightning. Understanding these phenomena requires a comprehensive approach that considers various scientific perspectives.

What causes lightning and thunder?

Summary

Introduction

Key Insights

Conclusion

Sources and full results

Evidence of thunder being a chemical explosion of air

Thunder is caused by an air explosion driven by chemical bond energy from nitrogen and oxygen molecules, rather than thermal expansion of the lightning channel.

The cause of thunder

Thunder is caused by a shockwave in air driven by the sudden thermal expansion of plasma in the lightning channel, with the Lorentz pinch force being too small and in the wrong direction to be the cause.

Thunder and Lightning

Thunder and lightning are created by lightning, with the separation of charges occurring due to the freezing of water into ice crystals.

An explanation for anomalous lightning from forest fire clouds

Forest fire clouds produce anomalous lightning due to negative fine weather space charge, which may be caused by one or more influence mechanisms.

Lightning, Electrostatic Discharge, and Buildings

Lightning is caused by electrical discharges in the atmosphere, which can cause damage to buildings and cause fear in humans.

The thunder-storm as a chemical phenomenon

Chemical changes in oxygen and water molecules in the air may contribute to the accumulation of electricity in thunder-storms, potentially promoting their discharge through lightning.

Lightning Applications in Weather and Climate Research

Lightning can provide early warnings for severe weather, impact climate, and serve as a useful tool for tracking climate change in the future.

Physics: Thunder but no lightning

Thunderstorms can produce radiation without lightning, due to the close proximity of the radiation hemisphere to the ground.

Thunderstorms and Lightning

Thunderstorms generate about twenty coulombs of electricity in five seconds, with the motive power behind this electrical machine being the wind, which blows up from below the cloud with tremendous force.

Thunderstorms

During thunderstorms, both ascending and descending currents can cause fatal accidents, and continuous lightning-conductors provide sufficient protection for public buildings, but metal pinnacles and iron pillars should be insulated below.

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