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The lightning that is most-commonly observed is streak lightning. This is nothing more than the return stroke, the visible part of the lightning stroke. The majority of strokes occur inside a cloud so we do not see most of the individual return strokes during a thunderstorm.
Cloud-to-ground lightning
This is the best known and second most common type of lightning. Of all the different types of lightning, it poses the greatest threat to life and property since it strikes the ground. Cloud-to-ground lightning is a lightning discharge between a cumulonimbus cloud and the ground. It is initiated by a leader stroke moving down from the cloud.
Ground-to-cloud lightning Ground-to-cloud lightning is a lightning discharge between the ground and a cumulonimbus cloud initiated by an upward-moving leader stroke. It is much rarer than cloud-to-ground lightning. This type of lightning forms when negatively charged ions called the stepped leader rises up from the ground and meets the positively charged ions in a cumulonimbus cloud. Then the strike goes back to the ground as the return stroke
Cloud-to-cloud lightning
Lightning discharges may occur between areas of cloud without contacting the ground. When it occurs between two separate clouds it is known as inter-cloud lightning and when it occurs between areas of differing electric potential within a single cloud, it is known as intra-cloud lightning. Intra-cloud lightning is the most frequently occurring type.[15] These are most common between the upper anvil portion and lower reaches of a given thunderstorm. This lightning can sometimes be observed at great distances at night as so-called "heat lightning". In such instances, the observer may see only a flash of light without hearing any thunder. The "heat" portion of the term is a folk association between locally experienced warmth and the distant lightning flashes.
Positive lightning is a type of lightning strike that comes from apparently clear or only slightly cloudy skies; they are also known as "bolts from the blue" because of this trait. Unlike the more common negative lightning, the positive charge is carried by the top of the clouds (generally anvil clouds) rather than the ground. The leader forms in the sky travelling horizontally for several miles before veering down to meet the negatively charged streamer rising from below. Positive lightning makes up less than 5% of all lightning strikes.[38] Because of the much greater distance they must travel before discharging, positive lightning strikes typically carry six to ten times the charge and voltage difference of a negative bolt and last around ten times longer.[39] During a positive lightning strike, huge quantities of ELF and VLF radio waves are generated.Positive lightning has also been shown to trigger the occurrence of upper atmosphere lightning. It tends to occur more frequently in winter storms, as with thundersnow, and at the end of a thunderstorm.
Gurevich's runaway breakdown theory Main article: Runaway breakdown A theory of lightning initiation, known as the "runaway breakdown theory", proposed by Aleksandr Gurevich[25] of the Lebedev Physical Institute in 1992 suggests that lightning strikes are triggered by cosmic rays which ionize atoms, releasing electrons that are accelerated by the electric fields, ionizing other air molecules and making the air conductive by a runaway breakdown, then "seeding" a lightning strike.
Originally posted by LeoVirgo
Light is a electromagnetic wave and exhibits polarization. Fast moving electrons emit polarized z-rays as they move through intense magnetic fields (this is a general reverb of notes I took). Could it be that Earth is electrically connected to the sun? When a charge radiates, it shows the charge accelerates. Cosmic waves arent really waves, but individual particles coming from the sun and other parts of the Universe. I read that solar wind can be looked at as a magmatized plasma generated by the sun. Terrestrial gamma ray bursts are thought to be different from Sprites and elves because Gamma Rays are produced by electrons accelerating into high speed beams (electromagnetic lines). Sprites and Elves are theorized to be from electrons heating up due to the electric field produced after a lighting bolt.
Originally posted by LeoVirgo
It seems traditional science would say atmosphereic electricity is an effect from our weather, but could it be that our weather is an effect of atmosphereic electricity?
Originally posted by Thill
reply to post by Phage
Phage , I wonder what is Your take on the Electric Universe theory ? I take it that You have had to do some research on it one day or another and I would love to hear Your critical opinion about it , supported with some facts for or against it
[edit on 30-1-2010 by Thill]