Description

why does lightning look like it comes from the sky ?

### Why Does Lightning Appear to Come from the Sky?

Lightning, one of nature’s most spectacular displays, has fascinated humans since the dawn of time. We commonly observe lightning as a sharp, zigzagging bolt shooting down from a cloud. But is this really how lightning behaves? Let’s dive into the science behind this phenomenon.

#### A Quick Physics Lesson on Lightning

Lightning occurs due to the imbalance of electrical charges within a thunderstorm. In a storm, the tops of the clouds carry a positive charge, while the middle and lower areas of the cloud, and even the ground, acquire a negative charge. When the difference between the charges becomes too extreme, a giant spark occurs, which we call lightning.

#### Lightning’s Downward and Upward Journey

There seems to be a myth that lightning only comes from the sky down. In reality, lightning involves a two-step process, starting from both the cloud and the ground.

1. **Step One: Initiation** – Lightning begins with a downward path known as the “stepped leader.” This negative charge travels downward and is invisible to the naked eye. The stepped leader is a channel that forms as a result of electrical charges building up and trying to find a path to the ground.

2. **Step Two: Return Stroke** – Simultaneously, positively charged streams called “positive streamers” emerge from high points on the ground or through objects on the landscape, such as the tip of a tree, a lightning rod, or the highest point of a building. When the stepped leader from the cloud makes contact with a positive streamer on the ground, a visible and instantaneous upward surge of electrical current or return stroke occurs along the same channel formed by the downward leader.

This is the part of the lightning bolt that we see; the return stroke lights up the whole channel, giving the appearance of a fast-moving lightning strike coming from the sky down, when in fact, its formation is a multi-stage process that we, as observers, only see the final burst of light.

#### Lightning Discharge – An Invisible to Visible Process

The invisibility of the preliminary lighting process and the sudden visibility of the return stroke are what make lightning seem like it originates from the sky. The entire journey takes several trips between the earth and the clouds before we see the final flash. To understand this in simpler terms, imagine a conversation between two parties. The initial attempts to speak (initiation and connection) are silent, while the actual exchange (visible lightning strike) is what catches our attention.

#### Why the Appearance Is Misleading

Our perception of lightning starting from the sky to the ground is misleading because of the speed at which the process begins to the point we see it. The invisibility of the initial step makes us miss the formation of the charged channel. Instead, we witness the bright, electric current’s release as if the lightning bolt has struck down from the heavens in an instant.

#### Lightning, a Symptom of the Electric Universe

Lightning is an essential part of the Earth’s atmospheric electrical circuit. Besides being a mesmerizing spectacle, it reminds us of the electrical symphony that continually plays above our heads, linking the Earth and the sky in a dance of positive and negative charges. Although lightning might predominantly seem to spring from the sky, the process is far more complex.

### Conclusion

Lightning, a result of the atmosphere’s natural electrical cycle, often seems to shoot down because of our limited human perception. The invisible downward initiation followed by the visible return stroke is what we see, leading to the mistaken belief that lightning comes from the sky before our eyes. The beauty of lightning often overshadows its complexity, but we continue to uncover the mystery behind this awe-inspiring force of nature. So, the next time a storm rolls in, remember that what we see is a mere glimpse into a far more intricate process, occurring in the high drama of the sky.