Ever since the days of Benjamin Franklin, lightning has fascinated scientists and the
rest of the world. Lightning is due to a charge build up in the air that is caused by friction.
There are many types of lightning in the world today such as negative and positive cloud to
ground lightning, negative and positive ground to cloud lightning, volcanic lightning, sprite
flashes, and cloud to cloud lightning. In this paper, we will discuss each one of these types
of lightning as well as look at locations that people are at risk, and describe which type of
electricity is dangerous to people.
Cloud to ground lightning occurs in two different forms, positive and negative. Positive
cloud to ground lightning occurs when a positive charge builds up in a cloud due to friction.
When this charge reaches a certain magnitude and is located over an area of land with a
negative charge, the charge is released and transferred down to the negative soil. The negative
cloud to ground lightning occurs in virtually the same method except the cloud is negatively
charged and the ground has a positive charge to it.
Ground to cloud lightning also occurs in both positive and negative forms. This occurs when
charge is transferred up from the ground or most often skyscrapers up into the clouds. The
positive form involves a positively charged ground and a negatively charged cloud. The
negative form has just the opposite charges for the cloud and ground.
Volcanic lightning occurs without any clouds present to cause friction and charge build up.
However, swirling dust particles in the around the top of the volcano that collide together
and cause friction which leads to a charge build up and eventually results in non-cloud
lightning.
Sprite flashes occur about fifty kilometers above big thunderclouds and are a result of
negative cloud to ground lightning. The electric field above the cloud is neutralized by the
charge in the cloud. When lightning occurs, it transfers the cloud’s charge down into the
ground therefore the electric field is no longer neutralized. The electric field then ionizes
nitrogen gas and excites the freed electrons. These excited electrons are what cause the
sprite flashes.
Cloud to cloud or intercloud lightning occurs when two oppositely charged clouds come in
close enough contact to have charge transferred from one cloud to the other. This type
lightning is most dangerous to airplanes who could be hit by this cloud jumping static
electricity.
Some dangerous locations to be when lightning is present are golf courses, football fields,
swimming pools, under trees, and on airplanes. High places are also considered to be
dangerous to be around during lightning storms. Lightning can be deadly, but usually it is
not fatal because lighting has such a high frequency. High frequency electricity only passes
over the surface of the skin where low frequency electricity tries to go through the body
causing injury.
In conclusion, there are many types of lightning in the world today and is just awesome display
of static electricity. Lightning is truly “Wild” electricity.