Posted on 10/19/2012 9:18:30 PM PDT by neverdem
A team of Australian scientists believe they have uncovered the cause of one of nature's most bizarre phenomenon - ball lightning.
Ball lightning is typically the size of a grapefruit and lasts up to 20 seconds.
"Ball lightning has been reported by hundreds of people, for hundreds of years and it has been a mystery," said CSIRO scientist John Lowke, lead author of a new study published in the Journal of Geophysical Research Atmospheres.
Previous theories have suggested microwave radiation, oxidising aerosols, nuclear energy, dark matter, antimatter, and even black holes as possible causes.
One recent theory suggests burning silicon that has been vaporised by a lightning strike.
To unravel the mystery Mr Lowke and colleagues at the CSIRO and the Australian National University, turned their attention to reports of ball lightning forming near windows.
"There are many observations of ball lightning appearing from a glass window either in a house (or) in the cockpit of an aircraft," he said.
"If it's burning silicon, how did it come in?"
After hitting the ground and lighting the sky, lightning strikes leave behind a trail of charged particles, or ions. In most cases, these positive and negative ions recombine in a split seconds. Any remaining ions travel down to the ground.
Mr Lowke's theory is that some of these ions can accumulate on the outside of non-conducting surfaces such as a window.
"These ions pile up and produce an electrical field which penetrate the glass," he said.
Mr Lowke says the field gives free electrons on the inside of the window enough energy to knock off electrons from surrounding air molecules, as well as release photons, creating a glowing ball.
Recreating it in the lab
"This is the first paper which gives a mathematical solution explaining the birth or initiation of ball..."
(Excerpt) Read more at au.news.yahoo.com ...
Good find, thanks!
Has ball lightning ever been known to cause damage or injuries?
My brother in law has been hit by lightning twice in his life. Once in his backyard by regular lightning and once in his upstairs hallway by ball lightning that essentially chased him down. He said in came from the bathroom window and got him as he was running away from it.
My grandmother had encounter with ball lightning. There was a large strike near the house, and just like the article says, the ball of lightning came through the window and hovered over to the telephone then blew it right off the wall. To this day grandmother will not use the phone even if there’s a remote possibility of a thunderstorm.
Tesla was making these in his lab long ago.
Did the ball lightning cause him any pain or injury?
Ball lightning is one of those weird things that actually scares the crap out of me. I never want to see it close up. At a distance is great, but the stories of them going in and out of houses and exploding are freaky. Apparently they make weird noises too.. Lots say it’s not really electrical, more like an engine but unlike anything else.
The one time I saw ball lightning was during a severe thunderstorm. I was looking out of the window, and saw 3 balls of lightning fall somewhat slowly, one of which struck a power transformer. The transformer was fried similar to how it would be with ordinary lightning. The slow speed of the ball lightning was what was most interesting.
In 1974 my friends sister watched ball lightning roll off of their electric stove and setting the kitchen on fire. Both her and her mother saw it happen. She I was 12 at the time, and she described it as looking like a fireworks pinwheel rolling across the floor, until it exploded.
Interesting. Thanks! I guess it has some potency.
I was sleeping on my couch one night in Chicago and was awakened by a wicked flash of lightning. Next thing I know a six inch ball lightning descends slowly from the ceiling light fixture. It spazed out and ruined my computer. The place smelled strongly...ozone. Really a once in a lifetime experience.
Aiyeeeee! Now that’s a real spooky story. Once would be enough I’m sure.
Along with other things. He was ahead of his time. A most brilliant mind as well.
The first time was around Orlando Fl around 3 am during a heat lightning type of night. I was driving south and all of a sudden there was something like a magnesium burn floating down from the sky. It burned out in 10 seconds well before it even got to powerline level.
The second time was more dramatic. I was on 595 eastbound around 5pm in fort lauderdale. There was an afternoon summer storm on the edge of erupting. Lightning was everywhere. All of a sudden, what looked like a 3 foot diameter ball of magnesium fire popped up over the highway and just hovered about 50 feet over the ground. It lasted about 10 seconds, but it felt like slow motion. Then, it imploded and disappeared. The rain started a few seconds later.
Yeah! and it made spooky electric buzzing the whole time lasted solid 10 second went about 4 feet straight down..all I could do was state in awe.
Yeah! and it made spooky electric buzzing the whole time lasted solid 10 second went about 4 feet straight down..all I could do was state in awe.
Yeah! and it made spooky electric buzzing the whole time lasted solid 10 second went about 4 feet straight down..all I could do was state in awe.
Oops phone triple post
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