Talk:Lightning

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Why is the bottom part of the article labeled as applying only to the U.S.?

Does someone really think that lighting in the U.S. is different from lighting in other parts of the world? What is especially strange is to see no explanation on this Talk page of the reason for this labeling.

If there is some good reason for this, could someone please state it here? If there is no good reason for this, could someone please remove this bizarre labeling of the latter part of the article? (I am a lightning ignoramus, so the someone should not be me.)

Many Americans don't believe that there is a world outside their country's borders.JohnC (talk) 08:30, 29 July 2010 (UTC)

Copy Edit donation from Severe weather

Template:Disputedsection Once sufficiently tall clouds have formed, the downdrafts present in the cumulonimbus cloud causes the remaining water molecules to freeze into solid states of ice and hail. The ice particles, containing a positive charge is separated by the updrafts, while the hail particles that contain a negative charge is moved by the downdrafts. This basically separates the differently charged particles. During the thunderstorm, the Earth's surface is composed of a positive charged. Because opposites attract, the negative charged particles on the lower cloud (caused by the downdraft) tries to contact the positive particles upon land. The negative charges, once strong enough to resist against air resistance flows downwards towards the Earth. This is called a stepped leader. The positive particles, being attracted to the stepped leader climbs up elevated objects of trees and other objects and contacts the negative particles. Once this happens, a strong electrical current inputs the positive charges into the cloud. This creates a return stroke of lightning.

This section on lightning formation was trimmed from severe weather but may be of value to your article. Respectfully Bullock ✉ 20:09, 28 May 2010 (UTC)

Amount of energy in lightning

See the diff.

While a single bolt of lightning carries a very little amount of energy,

While a single bolt of lightning carries a relatively large amount of energy,

So, high or low?

Thanks.
David Latapie (✒ | @) — www 13:57, 20 June 2010 (UTC)

Based on what follows in the section, I think the amount of energy is relatively small in the context of power generation, in spite of its very brief intensity. Tapatio (talk) 22:02, 20 June 2010 (UTC)

In the section of culture - use of the term mythology217.33.222.130 (talk) 15:33, 9 July 2010 (UTC)Sancho

Just a thought while reading the article- it talks of Finnish "mythology", Norse "mythology", Slavic "mythology"...but when Jewism and Islam are referred to there is no mention of the word...as if all the others are just "myths" but Islam and Judaism are the true faith. Just a trifle unfair, isn't it?

Lightning actually does strike twice, I think?

The article states that lightning has a very low probability of striking twice. But in fact, lightning takes the path of least resistance. In a short time span, this path might not change much so lightning could strike the same location many times in a brief moment. For example, look at the following YouTube video which clearly shows lightning hitting the same location about ten times all within one second (it's slowed down by 300x). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=haW6-sQfMdw&feature=player_embedded. 67.243.140.144 (talk) 22:59, 25 July 2010 (UTC)particle25

Once a low resistance path is created by the electric current superheating the air to create a highly conductive plasma, lightning may strike (current may flow) repeatedly along the same path until the local potential difference (voltage) is insufficient to maintain current flow.

More importantly perhaps, is that lightning may strike the same structures (water towers for example) or protection devices (rods, or static wires strung between utility poles) innumerable times during their lifespan. Cheers, Rico402 (talk) 04:17, 10 August 2010 (UTC)

Medicine

Do we have a page on the medical aspects of lightening strike? Can someone drop me a note regarding this issue. Doc James (talk · contribs · email) 06:46, 7 August 2010 (UTC)

http://firstaid.webmd.com/lightning_strike_treatment_firstaid.htm Cheers, Rico402 (talk) 04:22, 10 August 2010 (UTC)

Pliny

Hi, I think it is OK that Pliny the Elder died in 79 b.C., but Pliny the Younger had then time to write about the phenomenon (and his uncle's death). 212.92.1.124 (talk) 17:40, 13 August 2010 (UTC) Emmy