![]() Due to the different rates of rising and falling within a thunderstorm, a separation of electrical charge takes place. These collisions within the thunderstorm cause these particles to build up electric charge. Owing to the rising and sinking air associated with thunderstorms, these particles collide frequently inside the cloud. Inside a thunderstorm, these ice particles vary in size, from small ice crystals to larger hailstones. The formation of ice in a cloud appears to be very important in the development of this charge separation and ultimately of lightning. In a thunderstorm, lightning is created as a discharge of built up energy due to the separation of positive and negative charges which are generated inside the thunderstorm. Lightning occurs most frequently during thunderstorms, but has also been observed during volcanic eruptions, extremely intense forest fires, and surface nuclear detonations. Lightning is a chaotic and dangerous aspect of weather. Most people in recent years have been killed by lightning while swimming, golfing, or hiking. While the number of deaths for Arizona may seem low by national standards, nearly all these deaths occur in our short three month thunderstorm season.Īll lightning is dangerous and even the weakest thunderstorms produce lightning. In Arizona, an average of four people are killed by lightning each year. Since 1959, an average of 86 people die each year nationally as a result of lightning strikes. But Arizona thunderstorms have the potential to cause injury and death to people unfortunate enough to be struck by lightning. Typically forming in the late morning and lasting throughout the afternoon, the vivid display of lightning can be a beautiful sight to see. The climate of northern Arizona provides us with a three month period (July through September) when thunderstorms occur almost every day. During your lifetime, you have a one in 600,000 chance of being struck by lightning. It is estimated that 100 lightning flashes occur each second somewhere on the Earth, adding up to nearly 8 million lightning flashes per day. At any given moment, there are approximately 1,800 thunderstorms occurring over the Earth.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |