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defacto7

(14,162 posts)

4. I read yesterday on PhysOrg

Tue May 7, 2013, 10:49 PM

May 2013

that there is new evidence for the theory that lightning is partially the product of interstellar cosmic radiation. In the experiment massive amounts of radio waves are present a split second before lightning strikes earth. The other part of the equation is the collision of hydrobolides (hail) in the thunderhead. But when the radio waves are present which are an indication of cosmic radiation, the ionization of the cloud's water causes the extra ions (+) in the cloud to strike the earth (-).

There must have been a lot of cosmic radiation passing through that thunderhead for that depicted strike.

Wow.

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One of the most spectacular lightning strikes we have ever seen [View all] bigtree May 2013 OP

Cool pic (nt) bigwillq May 2013 #1

+1000. nt awoke_in_2003 May 2013 #23

Gorgeous! I saw one in North Carolina that lit up the sky gateley May 2013 #2

Gorgeous shot of Mother Nature.. Cha May 2013 #3

I read yesterday on PhysOrg defacto7 May 2013 #4

Well, thanks for this little tidbit siligut May 2013 #9

Lightning rarely, but sometimes travels up from the cloud towards space. lob1 May 2013 #10

Very nice article! defacto7 May 2013 #13

Lightning ALWAYS travels from GROUND to CLOUD azbillyboy May 2013 #16

That is truly an amazing sight! nt sheshe2 May 2013 #5

It is! Very evocative image. I've also seen lightning that goes horizontal a long ways. IDK why? freshwest May 2013 #12

ai yi yi motocicleta2 May 2013 #6

Beautiful and Amazing! burrowowl May 2013 #7

Desert View Watchtower I think. amerikat May 2013 #8

Yes. That's the place. Here's a daytime pic from similar POV: NYC_SKP May 2013 #20

that is one impressive structure bigtree May 2013 #28

Built in 1932, undergoing restorations now, serves as a gift shop and observatory! NYC_SKP May 2013 #30

thanks Skip! bigtree May 2013 #31

A sacred place for me. amerikat May 2013 #33

Spectacular! n/t JimDandy May 2013 #11

Spectacular Yes. Left Coast2020 May 2013 #14

It's Alive!!!! johnp3907 May 2013 #15

Wrath of God looking LittleBlue May 2013 #17

Worst storm I ever saw was in eastern Mass. Warpy May 2013 #18

Absolutely amazing! liindy May 2013 #19

wow ZRT2209 May 2013 #21

Wow, that is spectacular. rl6214 May 2013 #22

Wow. Warren DeMontague May 2013 #24

SWEEEEEEET Skittles May 2013 #25

Okay, that is very very very awesome! krispos42 May 2013 #26

when I was a kid MFM008 May 2013 #27

This is beautiful, that I made it my desktop picture..... a kennedy May 2013 #29

Just another typical evening in Mordor. Ikonoklast May 2013 #32