Lightning is actually discharge from static electricity. Static e -as
opposed to current - is the accunulation of charges on otherwise
neutral objects. It occurs when the potential difference has become very high.
A typical lightning strike will start from the cloud underbelly, and create zigs
and zags as it looks for a match from the ground. When it meets a positive flow
from the ground, maybe 100 meters high at most, then the actual highly luminescent
form of the standard lightning rod will appear. This rod is also incadescent because the
air around it becomes very hot. This major branch will then be the path for
various subsequent bursts.
Voilà! I'm startig to get a notion of how lightning forms and occurs. Would be
neat to do a little visual visual on all this...sort of a slow motion lightning event.
Because the real thing happens in a very short time frame.
Below, from Discovery Channel:
A notion more in use in temperate climates: that of storm cell, withn
which lightning and thunder are events. This storm is over in 30 minutes
because heat convection is no longer sustainable, once the ground is wet
from precipitation.
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