Looking at The Secret World of Green Lightning
Green lightning manifests as an interesting sight presented by the marvels of nature, where a glowing show develops inside the sky. It calls everyone’s attention to the wonders and beauty of the very nature from which human civilization has taken many lessons. The phenomenon is sort of a unique display of light developed by nature, in its mysterious quality, of appeal. Ever thought of why it occurs, what causes it, and what it means?
Lightning can be classified into two primary ways.
- By path
- By color
The path classification includes three major types of lightning.
1. Cloud-to-ground (CG) lightning
This is the most common type of lightning. It starts off as an invisible channel of electrically charged air traveling from a cloud toward the ground. A large surge of electricity from the ground goes up to the clouds, leading to an inappreciable lightning strike.
2. Cloud-to-cloud (CC) lightning
This kind occurs between two or more different clouds. Essentially, it is a flash between cloud areas without the pathway reaching the ground.
3. Intra-cloud (IC) lightning
This is a type of lightning that occurs wholly within a cloud, jumping between different charged areas. Intra-cloud lightning is also sometimes called sheet lightning due to the fact that it can light up the sky with an immense area of light.
Characteristics of Green Lightning:
Green lightning is the phenomenon in which lightning bolts appear to be green, while they are usually white or blue. Observers often describe this appearance as ethereal and unearthly, which fills them with awe and interest. Bright luminosity is present in a long, sinuous, jagged path that is followed through the sky, and usually is seen as it travels from one cloud to the ground.
In addition to green lightning, there are many other forms of lightning which might surprise you:
- Ball lightning
- Sprites
- Elves
- Dark lightning
1. Ball Lightning
This mysterious and poorly known phenomenon of lightning has fascinated meteorologists through time. It comes in a spherical shape, which varies from the size of a golf ball to more massive than a football.
2. Sprite Lightning
A sprite is a faint, red electrical event that appears high above a thunderstorm. These events are gigantic and range from the top of a thunderstorm to altitudes greater than 60 miles above the Earth’s surface. They begin as bright spheres that then fall.
3. Elves Lightning
Elves are expansive red halos that appear high in the atmosphere, approximately 100 kilometers above active thunderstorms. They can be observed above the clouds even in bright daylight.
4. Dark Lightning
As reported by NASA, dark lightning is primarily an invisible surge of energy within thunderstorms that saturates the atmosphere with gamma rays. It is regarded as the most energetic form of radiation produced naturally on Earth. This phenomenon is scientifically known as dark lightning, which remains hidden from the human eye. The radiations emitted during dark lightning possess a million times more energy than visible lightning. Such energy travels rapidly in all directions rather than being confined to the lightning bolt.
Conclusion:
We are well aware that lightning poses a threat; thus, we take precautions during its occurrence. However, it is less known for its aesthetic attributes, a great deal of energy, causes leading to this, and its unique properties. Starting with a concise definition, we have examined many aspects of green lightning. So, the next time a storm occurs, keep your eyes open; you might just see a flash of green.
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