Into Space May Be the Most Powerful Lightning

Introduction

On August 7, 2014, a giant light jet shot up from the thunderstorm clouds over Northern Queensland, Australia. This gigantic jet may be the most powerful lightning. The giant jet was so bright that it was visible from space. It was also caught on video by a weather camera. 

Scientists are still studying this event and have not yet concluded what caused it. They speculate that the phenomenon is linked to something called an upward streamer. When two storm systems collide, they produce a huge column of rain and hail, which is often found at the bottom of some rainstorms. 

But in this case, there were no other storms nearby. However, scientists know that bolts like these form when electrical charge accumulates too quickly near the ground during thunderstorms or volcanic eruptions.

What is the lighting?

A lightning bolt is a massive electrostatic discharge produced during an electrical storm. The energy from a lightning bolt can be so intense that it can heat the air around it to temperatures of up to 30,000 degrees Celsius. That's hot enough to melt metal! 

A lightning bolt can also produce an electromagnetic pulse (EMP), which can disrupt electronic equipment. In fact, there have been documented cases of lightning bolts setting off fires and knocking out power lines. 

A thunderstorm consists of many different types of storms, including rain, snow, and hail. All thunderstorms have one thing in common: they produce lightning bolts. And while some are just ordinary flashes in the sky with few jolts of electricity, others are far more powerful than others.

Statistics of lightning bolts

On average, there are about 16 million lightning flashes in the U.S. annually. Florida has the most thunderstorm activity in the U.S., with an average of about 10,000 thunderstorms per year. Lightning typically strikes within 6 miles of a thunderstorm center. 

A single lightning bolt can heat the air it passes through to 50,000 degrees Fahrenheit (5 times hotter than the sun's surface). In an average lifetime, a person will likely see just over two dozen lightning bolts. Scientists have detected as many as 300 bolts from one storm at once. 

It’s rare for someone to be struck by lightning more than once because people don’t always live long enough for this phenomenon to happen again—but some people have been struck twice or even three times!

Research what we found out about this phenomenon

In August 2014, a gigantic jet shot into space from thunderstorms over southern Sudan. Satellites caught this event on camera, which is believed to be the most powerful lightning. The jet was likely created when a large amount of energy was released from the thunderstorm, causing the air to expand rapidly and shoot into space. 

This event is extremely rare, and it is not yet known what causes it. However, this has not stopped researchers from looking for answers. Some have proposed that this phenomenon may occur due to a coronal mass ejection (CME) or solar flare--a sudden release of magnetic energy in the form of high-energy particles that can cause auroras near Earth's poles. 

Scientists are continuing their research to better understand this strange occurrence and make predictions about its impact on future weather patterns near Earth.

Conclusion

While the cause of this event is still unknown, it's safe to say that it was an incredibly powerful force. And while we may never know exactly what happened, we can be sure that it was an amazing sight to behold. 

Although not every weather event causes lightning, there are more lightning strikes on average in winter than in any other season. This means that many people who live in colder climates should prepare for lightning strikes during stormy conditions. 

The National Weather Service recommends having working smoke alarms on every floor and outside all sleeping areas, as well as staying away from windows and making sure no one stands under a tall tree or anything else tall with a high branching structure during storms. 

You should also stay off corded phones and instead use your cell phone to alert emergency services if needed while still being protected by your home's walls. If you see any indications of coming storms—dark skies, high winds, or approaching clouds—it’s time to seek shelter indoors immediately.