Conditions for forming lightning

Besides the atmospheric conditions related to weather and humidity, air ionization plays an important role in lightning formation.

Lightning is huge sparks that occur when electric current passes through the air (which is an insulator at normal conditions).

Lightning can have many different colors.

To form lightning, the air must become a conductor. Gas only conducts electricity when the carrier particles are generated by air ionization. Ionization is the process by which an atom or molecule accumulates a negative or positive charge by, by receiving or losing electrons to form ions.

Some atmospheric conditions needed to ionize the air can be mentioned as: convection, unstable air humidity, stormy weather with turbulent wind .

Discharge can take place inside a cloud, between two clouds carrying charges opposite or between clouds to the ground.

Lightning often follows the shortest path so high objects on the ground will be at high risk of being struck by lightning.

Lightning can have many different colors. The color of the lightning depends on the atmosphere or the material through which the current flows. Extremely strong lightning can produce ultraviolet light.