• Question: how is lightning made?

    Asked by mayawright to Meeks, Pete, Stephen, Steve, Tom on 21 Jun 2010 in Categories: .
    • Photo: Marieke Navin

      Marieke Navin answered on 21 Jun 2010:

      Hey Maya, i love thunder and lightning. All I know about lightning I know from the Nitrogen cycle! it’s in the nitrogen cycle as “lightning causes nitrogen (N2) and water (H2O) to combine to form ammonia (NH3) and nitrates (NO3). Precipitation carries the ammonia and nitrates to the ground, where they can be assimilated by plants”. I remember that from school but just checked it out!

      But what actually causes lightning? ooh there is loads on the “howstuffworks” website, talks about how the clouds get charged due to water drops colliding with air and the air ionises…fascinating stuff!

    • Photo: Stephen Curry

      Stephen Curry answered on 21 Jun 2010:

      Hello Maya

      Lightning happens when there is a build up of charges particles in the clouds or upper atmosphere (I think – this is not my area). This can happen when electrons are stripped from atoms (but I don’t know how this happens). Eventually so much charge builds up that there is a flash as the charge finds its way (very rapidly) to the ground.

      That’s a pretty rubbish explanation, I’m afraid. You can read more here.

Comments