The brilliant flash of white light in a stormy sky that inspires both awe and fear, especially due to the deafening sound called “thunder” that follows it, has perplexed mankind for ages.Lightning is no small phenomenon to be taken lightly. In fact, the high amount of electric charge it carries can be enough to kill any living being.It isn’t surprising that lightning has been associated in several mythologies with the wrath of the “thunder gods” like Thor. What makes lightning so phenomenal is its various types- from cloud to ground, or ground to cloud, in between clouds or within clouds.To enhance your knowledge about the types of lightning that you have gained from this article, we suggest that you check out our other facts articles on do hurricanes have lightning and the color of lightning.How Lightning OccursThe electrostatic discharge that constitutes lightning is due to the imbalance of charges between two or more storm clouds, or between the clouds and the ground. The lightning strike helps to neutralize the difference in charges and the polarity of the charges significantly influences their expansion zones and how far they branch out.The type of discharge produced can vary from electromagnetic heat emissions to flashes of white light. These discharges get exacerbated during the storm because of the presence of various forms of precipitating particles such as raindrops, ice, and hail, whose increased friction increases the magnitude of polarity in charges between the cloud and the ground. The negative charge is concentrated in the clouds’ lower regions, while the positive charge gets concentrated in the objects on the ground. To come to an equilibrium, nature tries to transmit electrons from the highly concentrated field to the less concentrated field. Usually, the atmosphere surrounding the clouds prevents such transmission due to its insulating quality, however, the steady build-up of opposite charges disintegrates the insulation provided by the air and the electric discharge manifests into what we commonly call lightning.Different Types of LightningThe point from where a lightning flash starts and ends, as well as its direction of dispersion from cloud to cloud, can greatly determine the category to which the lightning belongs. In this section, we will list the various types of lightning flashes.Cloud-to-Ground (CG) Lightning: CG lightning flashes are the most common types where the electrostatic lightning discharge will hit the ground. CG lightning can be further divided into two types based on the direction and type of the charge. One comprises negative lightning discharges traveling in a downward direction and is called the negative cloud to ground lightning. The other, which is relatively uncommon, features a channel of positive charge descending to the ground, only to be followed by an upward ascending lightning bolt that returns to the clouds.You can easily identify negative CG flashes by their vein-like lightning structure that branches out as it travels down. CG flashes with a positive charge are more distinct because of their singular bright flash.Cloud-to-Air (CA) Lightning: When the cloud flashes do not reach the ground on emitting from the cloud base, but end in the air itself, they are called cloud-to-air flashes and are often considered as failed ground lightning.Ground-to-Cloud (GC) Lightning: This type of lightning discharge takes place in the reverse direction from cloud to ground lightning. The origin of this phenomenon can be traced to objects on the ground which emit positive charges upwards in the path created by the negative charges released during cloud-to-ground lightning. Although it’s quite rare a sight, if there are skyscrapers or any other tall buildings nearby, chances of witnessing a GC lightning are possible.Intra-Cloud Lightning: Intracloud lightning can be divided into two types, sheet lightning and heat lightning, depending on how they appear. Intracloud lightning is perhaps the most frequent because the entire dispersion of charges takes place within the ambit of a single storm cloud. It disperses from the upper anvil of the cloud to the lower part of the thundercloud.Cloud-to-Cloud Lightning (CC) or Inter-Cloud Lightning: Inter-cloud lightning, as the name indicates, takes place between two or more clouds, without reaching the ground. The charges get transmitted through the air.Types Of Lightning Strikes And BoltsBased on the patterns of flashes exhibited, we can divide the lightning activity into the following lightning strikes and bolts:Anvil Lightning or ‘Bolt from the Blue’: This is a type of cloud to ground lightning where the lightning strike occurs far away from the original thunderstorm. Cumulonimbus clouds are the source of negative charge in this case, and the charge is started in the highest strata of these clouds. From there, the lightning channel travels from the cloud in a horizontal direction to a point where there is no thunderstorm, and then the lightning strike sharply descends to earth in a vertical motion. It’s called a bolt from the blue as we usually see it descending from a clear blue sky, with no sign of stormy clouds. However, the source point is a thunderstorm which at its farthest point can be 10 miles away! No wonder why ‘bolt from the blue’ or ‘out of the blue’ is associated with wildly unexpected occurrences, just like this cloud to ground lightning which gives absolutely no foreboding at all.Staccato Lightning: Another variation of the cloud to ground lightning that lasts for a short period, staccato lightning, is identified by its vibrant single flash that often branches out into multiple short CG flashes, like a fork. It’s also referred to as ‘forked lightning’.Bead Lightning: The phase of the lightning channel, when its intensity is diminishing, is called bead lightning or pearl lightning. Since the channel disintegrates into several smaller fragments after the return stroke, the residual charges cluster in bead-like form, hence the name. Almost every type of lightning will exhibit this pattern when they are decaying.Ribbon Lightning: Ribbon lightning occurs in conditions including high crosswinds and several return strokes of lightning.Sheet Lightning: Another form of IC lightning, this flash actually illuminates up the storm clouds when the lightning occurs. The reason is that the lightning channel is obstructed from the observer’s view because of its concealment within the clouds or beyond the horizon.Blue Jets: These forms of lightning take place in the upper strata of the atmosphere, and emit in a narrow funnel-like structure which ultimately expands into a fan. The lightning channel of blue jets can be as long as 30 mi (48.2 km), and the color blue (sometimes purple) comes from the presence of the ions of nitrogen in the cloud base and in the surrounding air.Spider Lightning: Spider lightning is another name for anvil crawler lightning, a type of cloud-to-cloud lightning that originates in the lower part of stratiform clouds, with the leader branching out horizontally like a spider’s web.Rocket Lightning: This horizontal lightning is a marvelous sight to behold because of its slow yet spectacular expansion, like a branched tree in the sky, almost like the trail of light left behind by smoke. Rocket lightning is often accompanied by rolling thunder.Taking Measures To Stay Safe Around LightningDepending on whether you’re staying outdoors or indoors when a lightning strike occurs, it’s important to take adequate precautions to stay safe.For those planning to stay outdoors, we suggest checking the weather forecasts reports before you engage in any outdoor activities. Should the meteorological department predict any storm or natural calamity, try your best to avoid going out that day. If you can’t avoid it, make sure that you have proper shelter from the storm and rain before the lightning strikes. Try to find shelter to stay safe. If you’re traveling, ensure that the roof of your car is hardtop and the window are up to keep you secure from lightning flashes.If you’re outdoors avoid staying on the top of elevated landscapes like mountain peaks or small hills. Lying flat down on the open ground doesn’t help despite some people’s beliefs. Since most lightning strikes from cloud to ground, the increased surface area of being in contact with the earth can increase your chances of attracting the lightning discharge. You can crouch instead with your head lowered so that you are in minimal contact with the earth. Avoid hiding under trees or overhanging cliff or rock, as these are both are good conductors of electric charges. And it’s obviously important to avoid loose wires, electric power transmission lines, and electrically charged wire fences at all costs when there is electrostatic discharge in the form of lightning. Open water bodies like pools and ponds should also be avoided for the same reason.Being indoors is a safer option during lightning strikes. However, it’s still important to observe some ground rules in order to stay completely safe. Surprisingly, one-third of the total number of lightning strikes and consequent injuries have taken place even within the four walls of buildings. First and foremost, it is imperative that you do not engage in any kind of activity that involves water when there are active thunderstorms because the plumbing lines can catch the charges easily. Also, refrain from using electrical and electronic equipment during lightning, as these are extremely bad insulators. Stay away from wired telephones and openings in your house like windows, doors, and verandahs. Finally, equip your house with a spike suppression system to insulate it from lightning strikes.Other Interesting Lightning FactsThe rarest type of lightning is ball lightning, which takes the shape of a luminous halo, its diameter encompassing several centimeters, hence the name. This spontaneous lightning channel comes with a characteristic smell of burning sulfur and makes a sound like that of a loud hiss.Apart from the basic classification, lightning can be also differentiated into various types based on its color. While lightning is predominantly white, the colors can vary from any of the VIBGYOR colors, depending upon the type of light passing through the charge. If the cloud lightning looks blue, then it is likely that the precipitation is at a high level and there is hail too. If the lighting is purple in color, then it’s probably caused by extreme humidity in the air. Rarely, the lightning might appear to be yellow, the cause for which can be attributed to a high concentration of dust in the air. The red and pink and blue colors of lightning are attributed to the dispersion of nitrogen and other gases in the air.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for here are the types of lightning: you need to know then why not take a look at lightning bolt facts, or volcanic lightning facts?
The brilliant flash of white light in a stormy sky that inspires both awe and fear, especially due to the deafening sound called “thunder” that follows it, has perplexed mankind for ages.
