QUESTION 1. Lightning travels 1/3 the speed of light or 60,000 miles per second. It's not speed of lightning that creates thunder, but super-heating of air. A lightning stroke can heat air to 50,000 degrees F, causing air to expand explosively and initiate a booming sound wave similar to a sonic boom.
QUESTION 2. The poles are colder than the Equator because the sun shines more obliquely at the poles
QUESTION 3. Temperature extremes are from away from the ocean (large body of water)
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