Lightning

Lightning is a natural occurrence that arises when electrostatic discharges pass through the atmosphere between two regions that are electrically charged. These regions can either both be in the atmosphere or one in the atmosphere and the other on the ground. This discharge momentarily neutralizes the charged regions, resulting in an instantaneous release of energy. The amount of energy released varies depending on the type of lightning, ranging from an average of 200 megajoules to 7 gigajoules. As a result of this discharge, a wide range of electromagnetic radiation is produced, including heat generated by the rapid movement of electrons and brilliant flashes of visible light in the form of black-body radiation. The shock wave caused by lightning gives rise to thunder, which is a sound resulting from the sudden increase in pressure experienced by gases near the discharge. Lightning is commonly observed during thunderstorms and other energetic weather systems, but it can also occur during volcanic eruptions, known as volcanic lightning. This atmospheric electrical phenomenon plays a role in the global atmospheric electrical circuit.
There are three primary types of lightning categorized by their location: within a single thundercloud (intra-cloud), between two clouds (cloud-to-cloud), or between a cloud and the ground (cloud-to-ground), known as a lightning strike. Various other forms of lightning are also acknowledged, such as "heat lightning" visible from afar but not audible; dry lightning, capable of igniting forest fires; and ball lightning, a rare phenomenon studied by scientists.
Throughout history, humans have revered lightning for countless years. Across various languages, idiomatic expressions inspired by lightning, like the English phrase "bolt from the blue," are widely used. The captivating and distinctive nature of lightning has always intrigued people. The term astraphobia refers to the fear of lightning.
The initial documented photograph of lightning dates back to 1847, credited to Thomas Martin Easterly. The oldest existing photograph of lightning, taken in 1882, is attributed to William Nicholson Jennings, a dedicated photographer who dedicated a significant portion of his life to capturing images of lightning and showcasing its various forms.
There is a mounting body of evidence suggesting that particulate emissions, a type of air pollution, can lead to an increase in lightning activity. Nevertheless, lightning strikes can also have a positive impact on air quality by removing greenhouse gases like methane from the atmosphere, although they can also produce nitrogen oxide and ozone. Lightning is a significant factor in the occurrence of wildfires, which in turn can contribute to climate change. Further research is needed to fully understand the complex relationship between these phenomena.
== Effects ==
=== Strike ===
=== Objects ===
Lightning can generate intense heat and magnetic forces when it strikes objects. For instance, when lightning passes through a tree, the heat produced may be strong enough to vaporize the sap, leading to a steam explosion that can rupture the trunk. Similarly, when lightning travels through sandy soil, the soil around the plasma channel may melt, resulting in the formation of fulgurites, which are tubular structures.
=== Buildings and Vehicles ===
Buildings or tall structures that are struck by lightning may suffer damage as the lightning looks for unobstructed routes to the ground. By effectively channeling a lightning strike to the ground, a lightning protection system, typically equipped with at least one lightning rod, can significantly decrease the likelihood of extensive property damage.
Aircraft, with their metallic fuselages, are at high risk of being struck by lightning; however, such strikes are typically not hazardous to them. This is because the aluminum alloy fuselage functions as a Faraday cage due to its conductive properties. Modern aircraft are designed to withstand lightning strikes, ensuring the safety of passengers who may not even be aware that a strike has occurred.
=== Animals ===
Despite the fact that 90 percent of individuals who are struck by lightning manage to survive, animals, including humans, that experience a lightning strike may endure significant harm as a result of damage to their internal organs and nervous system.
=== Creatures ===
==== Pokémon ====
Electric Terrain creates terrain that envelops the field and replaces the background environment and any other terrain that is already in effect. The terrain fades after five turns.
The thunderstorm overworld variation, which was purely aesthetic upon its introduction in Generation III, gained an in-battle effect in Pokémon Sword and Shield, where it is equivalent to rain and Electric Terrain applied at the same time.
==== Mobs ====
A lightning strike affects certain mobs differently:
* Lightning may randomly spawn a "skeleton trap" horse with a chance of 0.75–1.5% chance on Easy, 1.5–4% on Normal, and 2.8125–6.75% on Hard, depending on the regional difficulty. A player triggers the trap by moving within 10 blocks of the horse, whereupon the horse transforms into four skeletal horsemen. A non-triggered trap horse despawns after 15 minutes.
* A pig struck by lightning turns into a zombified piglin.
* A creeper becomes charged.
* A villager gets replaced by a witch.
* A red mooshroom changes into a brown mooshroom and vice versa.
* A lightning strike on a turtle instantly kills it, and it drops 1 bowl instead of its normal drops.
==== Critters ====
* causes Electric Type BirdZing to have energy.
=== Other ===
Lightning plays a crucial role in the nitrogen cycle as it converts diatomic nitrogen in the atmosphere into nitrates. These nitrates are then deposited by rain, providing essential fertilization for the growth of plants and other organisms.
=== Thunder ===
Due to the intense heat generated by terrestrial lightning, the surrounding air is transformed into plasma, resulting in a rapid surge in pressure and an outward expansion of gaseous molecules along the lightning's path. This expansion creates a shock wave that manifests as the audible phenomenon known as thunder. Unlike sound waves originating from a single point, the thunder's source extends along the entire length of the lightning channel, leading to a rolling or rumbling effect as the distances between the observer and different points along the path vary. The perception of thunder's sonic characteristics is further complicated by factors such as the irregular and potentially branching shape of the lightning channel, the influence of terrain on acoustic echoes, and the typically multiple-stroke nature of lightning strikes.
Light travels at a speed of approximately 300,000,000 m/s (980,000,000 ft/s), while sound moves through air at around 343 m/s (1,130 ft/s). By timing the interval between seeing the lightning and hearing the thunder, an observer can estimate the distance to the strike. For instance, if thunder follows lightning after one second, the strike is roughly 343 m (1,125 ft) away; a delay of three seconds indicates a distance of about 1 km or 0.62 mi (3 × 343 m). If thunder comes five seconds after lightning, the distance is approximately 1.7 km or 1.1 mi (5 × 343 m). Therefore, a lightning strike observed at a close range will be accompanied by an immediate clap of thunder, possibly with the smell of ozone (O3) and almost no time lapse.
Lightning can be observed without being heard when it is at a considerable distance. Research indicates that lightning storms can be visible from over 160 km (100 mi) away, while the sound of thunder can only be heard up to about 32 km (20 mi) away. Despite anecdotal reports of individuals claiming that a storm was directly above them or all around them without any accompanying thunder, it is important to note that thunderclouds can reach heights of up to 20 km. Therefore, lightning strikes occurring high up in the cloud may seem nearby but are actually too far away to generate audible thunder.
== Trivia ==
* The Thunderagers believe that these particular Lightning types pose a danger to Orbings, leading to their extinction on Earth.
== Gallery ==
Category:Weather
Category:Light
Category:Thunder
Category:Electric Element
Category:Thunderagers