Lightning is a pure phenomenon that happens throughout thunderstorms when the discharge of electrical energy within the ambiance causes a shiny flash of sunshine. It is normally accompanied by thunder, which is the sound produced by the growth of quickly heated air attributable to the discharge of electrical energy. Lightning is attributable to the buildup of constructive and unfavorable fees inside a cloud or between a cloud and the bottom. When the variations in these fees change into too nice, a discharge of electrical energy happens, which may manifest as lightning.
Approximately 8.6 million lightning strikes happen every day all around the planet, every transferring at a velocity of greater than 320,000 kilometers per hour and producing an amazing quantity of electrical energy.
Have you ever puzzled why lightning zigzags? Scientists have argued over the the explanation why lightning zigzags and the way it’s associated to the thundercloud above for the final 50 years.
There hasn’t been a definitive clarification till now, with a University of South Australia (UniSA) plasma physicist publishing a landmark paper that solves both mysteries.
Dr. John Lowke, former CSIRO scientist and now a UniSA Adjunct Research Professor, says the physics of lightning has stumped the best scientific minds for decades.
“There are a few textbooks on lightning, but none have explained how the zig-zags (called steps) form, why the electrically conducting column connecting the steps with the cloud remains dark, and how lightning can travel over kilometers,” Dr. Lowke says.
The answer? Singlet-delta metastable oxygen molecules.
Basically, lightning happens when electrons hit oxygen molecules with enough energy to create high-energy singlet delta oxygen molecules. After colliding with the molecules, the “detached” electrons form a highly conducting step – initially luminous – that redistribute the electric field, causing successive steps.
The conducting column connecting the step to the cloud remains dark when electrons attach to neutral oxygen molecules, followed by an immediate detachment of the electrons by singlet delta molecules.
Why is this important?
“We need to understand how lightning is initiated so we can work out how to better protect buildings, airplanes, skyscrapers, valuable churches, and people,” Dr. Lowke says.
While it is rare for humans to be hit by lightning, buildings are hit many times, especially tall and isolated ones (the Empire State Building is hit about 25 times each year).
The solution to protecting structures from lightning strikes has remained the same for hundreds of years.
A lightning rod invented by Benjamin Franklin in 1752 is basically a thick fencing wire that is attached to the top of a building and connected to the ground. It is designed to attract lightning and earth the electric charge, saving the building from being damaged.
“These Franklin rods are required for all buildings and churches today, but the uncertain factor is how many are needed on each structure,” Dr. Lowke says.
There are also hundreds of structures that are currently not protected, including shelter sheds in parks, often made from galvanized iron, and supported by wooden posts.
This could change with new Australian lightning protection standards recommending that these roofs be earthed. Dr. Lowke was a committee member of Standards Australia recommending this change.
“Improving lightning protection is so important now due to more extreme weather events from climate change. Also, while the development of environmentally-friendly composite materials in aircraft is improving fuel efficiency, these materials significantly increase the risk of damage from lightning, so we need to look at additional protection measures.
“The more we know about how lightning occurs, the better informed we will be in designing our built environment,” Dr. Lowke says.
Reference: “Toward a theory of ‘stepped-leaders’ in lightning” by John J. Lowke and Endre J. Szili, 13 December 2022, Journal of Physics D: Applied Physics.
DOI: 10.1088/1361-6463/aca103
