4. The Misconception of Lightning Never Striking Twice
Though this popular wisdom is basically a fallacy, we have all heard the proverb “lightning never strikes the same place twice.” Actually, especially big buildings and natural lightning-attracting geographical characteristics, lightning can and usually does strike the same spot several times.
One outstanding illustration of this phenomena is the Empire State Building in New York City. It strikes lightning on average of twenty-three times year! About ten times a year, lightning strikes the Paris Eiffel Tower as well. These tall buildings function as preferred strike places, therefore acting as huge lightning rods.
One can also often strike natural features. For example, some mountaintops or exposed sites in places prone to lightning may be struck hundreds of times in a single year. This is basic: lightning usually follows the path of least resistance to the ground, hence once a path has been created, it becomes simpler for next strikes to follow the same path.
Safety grounds depend on an awareness of this fact. Just because an area has lately experienced lightning does not indicate it is safe from next strikes. Seeking appropriate cover is generally advisable during a thunderstorm independent of local recent lightning activity.
5. The Existence of Upward Lightning
Most people’s first image of lightning is bolts descending from the heavens to the ground. But there is an interesting and less well-known kind of lightning that really travels in the opposite direction—from the earth up towards the clouds. Ground-to—cloud lightning or upward lightning is the name given to this phenomena.
Usually starting from towering buildings like towers of communication, skyscrapers, or wind turbines, upward lightning comes from It happens when the electric field around the top of these constructions gets strong enough to start a leader travelling upward. The lightning channel is then completed by this leader connecting with opposite charges in the cloud above.
Though less frequent than conventional cloud-to- earth lightning, upward lightning is not infrequent. Actually, on really tall buildings, it can be the main form of lightning. Studies have indicated, for instance, that up to 90% of the lightning hits on wind turbines can be upward lightning.
For the protection of tall buildings, this kind of lightning presents special difficulties; moreover, it has significant effects on sectors such wind energy and telecommunications. Developing sensible lightning protection systems for very towering buildings depends on an awareness of upward lightning.
6. Lightning’s Role in Atmospheric Chemistry
Lightning plays a major part in the atmospheric chemistry of Earth, not only provides an amazing light show. The great heat and energy of a lightning strike force nitrogen and oxygen in the air to react and generate nitrogen oxides. The building of ozone and other vital atmospheric gases depends on these molecules.
About 5 million tonnes of nitrogen oxides are thought to be produced annually worldwide by lightning. An essential component of the nitrogen cycle, this natural process helps to explain soil’s productivity after these molecules reach Earth by rain.
Furthermore influenced by lightning-generated nitrogen oxides are patterns of climate. These molecules can function as greenhouse gases in the upper troposphere, where many lightning strikes take place, thereby maybe causing global warming. But they can also cause ozone to develop, which, depending on its location in the atmosphere, can have both warming and cooling impacts.
The hydroxyl radical, also known as the “detergent” of the troposphere because of its function in breaking down contaminants and greenhouse gases like methane, is also produced by the chemical processes set off by lightning.