Tag: how lightning occurs?

Build up of electrostatic charge in the clouds results in lightning. During this event, one region of the cloud is accumulated with positive charge whereas the other region is accumulated with negative charge.Hence when positive and negative charges grow large enough ,the air present being non-conductive no more resists the flow of charges and electric discharge can be seen in the form of giant lightning sparks.

It is estimated that lightning strikes 40-50 times every second, i.e., almost 1.4 billion flashes per year.

Lightning occurs when there is a build up of the electrostatic charge in clouds. Regions within the cloud, one builds up a positive whereas other builds up a negative charge.

Lightening is an extremely high voltage, high current, transient electrical discharge. It is most commonly caused by charge separation in cumulonimbus clouds, or "thunderheads". These type of clouds typically are very dynamic with strong ascending and descending air currents. They are formed in unstable atmospheric zones where there is typically lot of heat and moisture.

The layer of the earth's atmosphere which contains a high concentration of ions and free electrons and is able to reflect radio wave is known as the ionosphere.

Static electricity is an imbalance of electric charges within or on the surface of a material. The charge remains until it is able to move away by means of electric discharge. The static electricity produced by charged particles in the atmosphere is known as atmospheric electricity.

Atmospheric electricity is the pattern of electrical  charges in Earth's atmosphere. Atmospheric electricity refers to electricity that exists in the atmosphere as a result of natural phenomenon. 

The normal movement of electric charges among the Earth's surface, the various layers of atmosphere and especially the ionosphere, taken together are known as Global atmosphere electric circuit.

The ionosphere is the ionised part of earth's upper atmosphere. It is the layer that extends from about $80$ to $1000$ Km above the earth's surface.

Lightening is an extremely high voltage, high current, transient electrical discharge. It is most commonly caused by charge separation in cumulonimbus clouds or thunderheads.