Decoding the formation process of lightning

How lightning begins to form has long been a mystery in the study of this natural phenomenon. Dutch scientists have declared, they finally deciphered this difficult question.

The process of formation of lightning

The lightning strike process is relatively clear: the electric fields in the clouds are short-circuited, creating large flashes of light and energy. However, how this phenomenon started is now found in new research by experts from the National Institute of Mathematics and Computer Science Research and the University of Groningen in the Netherlands in conjunction with Dai. Study Brussels (Belgium).

The researchers said that lightning strikes began with large ice particles formed in the clouds. They came from hailstones that moved up - down in the air turbulence inside the thunderclouds.

When these ice particles grow into an elongated shape, about 6cm in length, they focus the electric field inside the clouds towards their ends. This creates so-called "pipes".

Normally, there are not many free electrons in the surrounding air to be able to short-circuit these pipes and create lightning. However, high-energy cosmic rays from meteors, black holes, . can produce free electrons of rain.

If an electric field is created at a height of 3 meters and has a size of 0.2 square meters, just a rain of particles formed from a single cosmic ray can produce lightning by shortening the pipe.

This model implies, less likely to occur at higher altitudes, over 12km, because large ice particles formed in clouds cannot reach the length needed to create a sufficient electric field. great.

" We now have all the pieces to understand the origin of lightning. The beginning of lightning strikes is extremely complicated, because there are many processes that occur at different scales in space and time. time and energy, "said Dr. Ute Ebert, a research team member.