Lightning on Earth
Explanation:
Nobody knows what causes lightning.
It is known that
charges slowly separate in some
clouds causing rapid
electrical discharges (lightning), but how
electrical charges get separated in
clouds remains a topic of much research.
Nevertheless,
lightning
bolts are common in clouds during rainstorms,
and on average 6000 lightning bolts occur between clouds
and the Earth every minute.
Above, several lightning strokes were photographed behind
Kitt Peak National Observatory in
Arizona.
Lightning has also been found on the planets
Venus,
Jupiter,
Saturn, and
Uranus.
NASA launched the
TRMM mission
in 1997 that continues to measure rainfall and
lightning
on planet
Earth.
Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
(MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell
(USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings,
and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris.
Specific
rights apply.
A service of:
LHEA at
NASA /
GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
