Scientists say they’ve finally solved the mystery of how clouds shoot lightning
Scientists decode mystery about how lightning strikes
- Scientists have unveiled the precise atmospheric processes that trigger lightning, solving a mystery that has persisted for over 270 years.
- The research, led by Penn State's Victor Pasko, explains how strong electric fields within storm clouds accelerate electrons, initiating a powerful chain reaction.
- This chain reaction involves electrons colliding with molecules, producing X-rays, additional electrons, and high-energy photons, which then lead to lightning strikes.
- The findings connect X-rays, electric fields, and electron avalanches, providing the first quantitative explanation for how lightning initiates in nature.
- The study also clarifies the phenomenon of “dark lightning” or terrestrial gamma-ray flashes, explaining their occurrence without visible light or radio emissions.