Articles tagged with Lightning
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Research from the University of Kansas finds that cuts in sulfur emissions from oceangoing vessels have led to a reduction in lightning stroke density along heavily trafficked shipping routes in the Bay of Bengal and South China Sea. The drop in sulfates from ships can cause fewer cloud condensation nuclei, resulting in weaker convecti...
Researchers investigate how adjacent cities exacerbate each other's heat island effects. A study also highlights the need for improved hindcasting infrastructure in climate science. Additionally, a campaign monitors pinned clouds over industrial sources of heat and finds that trees are more reliable against heat stress than buildings.
Researchers at ISTA use laser tweezers to capture and charge micron-sized particles, allowing them to observe charging and discharging dynamics over time. This method may provide key insights into what sparks lightning.
A new physics-based approach predicts how lightning strikes aircraft, identifying vulnerable regions for protection. The tool can be applied to any shape of aircraft, including unconventional designs.
Researchers found that weaker lightning during thunderstorm development can ignite forest fires, posing a higher risk due to distinct atmospheric conditions like low precipitation and strong winds. This discovery sheds new light on the prevention and control of lightning wildfires in mountainous areas globally.
A dual-source data-driven gated spatiotemporal fusion network significantly enhances the accuracy of fine-scale lightning forecasting. The model combines the strengths of weather foundation models and recent lightning observations, leveraging complementary features to improve forecast performance.
A new study predicts an increase in western US wildfires sparked by lightning strikes, with 98% of the region seeing more risk days by 2060. The western US is expected to see a significant rise in lightning days, with areas like Oregon and Idaho experiencing up to 12 more days per summer.
Researchers from the University of Maryland tracked lightning storms in real-time using NASA's TEMPO instrument, detecting nitrogen oxide emissions that affect climate and air quality. The study reveals how lightning can produce pollutants that travel long distances, influencing air quality far from the original storm.
Recent research from American Meteorological Society journals predicts a new record for lightning and a decrease in hurricane frequency. Additionally, fire forecasts have been updated to better manage water resources in Colorado's Gunnison River Basin.
Researchers used space-based instruments to measure a record-setting megaflash spanning 515 miles from Texas to Kansas City. Megaflashes are rare, occurring less than 1% of the time, and can be deadly, striking people up to 15 miles from their storm origin.
Researchers from The University of Osaka observed a rare phenomenon where lightning discharges accelerated electrons to near light speed, producing a gamma-ray flash. This study contributes critical data to understanding the mechanism behind these intense radiation bursts and their potential role in shaping Earth's atmosphere.
Researchers have discovered that urban areas experience a greater difference in wet bulb globe temperature between 0.5 m and 1.5 m above ground due to surface heat radiation, posing health risks to children and pets during extreme heat events. Total solar eclipses also alter atmospheric conditions and insect behavior, with some species...
Planetary scientists confirmed that Jupiter's mushball hailstorms occur due to unmixing of ammonia and water in the upper atmosphere. The storms are accompanied by fierce lightning and can punch through shallow weather systems, challenging long-held assumptions about gas giant atmospheres.
Scientists uncovered a rare thunderstorm near the North Pole, which came within 44 kilometers of the pole. The storm formed during an Arctic warming event and began at an altitude of 1.5 kilometers above the surface.
Recent research highlights increased fire activity in the western US, with wildfires becoming less prone to calming down at night. Meanwhile, extreme turbulence on hurricane flights has led to a new 'bumpiness' metric. Climate extremes are also evident in shifting energy demands for heating and cooling in Chinese megacities.
Researchers develop AI model to predict lightning-induced wildfires with over 90% accuracy, integrating data from satellites, weather systems, and environmental factors. The model has the potential to transform emergency response and disaster management worldwide, saving lives and preserving ecosystems.
A study led by Evan Gora found that Dipteryx oleifera trees can survive direct lightning strikes with minor damage, while other trees are badly damaged. The researchers discovered that these trees tend to have fewer lianas and are more likely to gain an advantage in competing for light and space after being struck by lightning.
Researchers analyzed parent lightning discharges to determine the driving force behind the spectacular displays of red sprites over the Himalayas. The study found that high-peak current positive cloud-to-ground lightning strikes triggered the sprites, revealing complex upper-atmospheric electrical discharges.
Researchers developed a deep learning-based nowcasting model to predict lightning risks to power grids, accurately forecasting location and frequency trends of organized thunderstorms. The model achieved excellent performance in predicting winter and spring thunderstorms, supporting enhanced protection against lightning disasters.
Researchers propose that microlightning in water droplets, rather than lightning strikes, sparked the formation of organic molecules with carbon-nitrogen bonds. This new mechanism suggests a more plausible explanation for the origin of life on Earth, overcoming criticisms of the Miller-Urey hypothesis.
The TTUHSC Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences hosted the 37th Student Research Week, showcasing student researchers' work and presentations from distinguished national speakers. The event featured an increase in abstract submissions and lightning talk sessions.
A new study reveals that climate change is driving intensifying wildfires by altering vegetation and humidity levels, but not significantly impacting lightning strikes. The simulations predict a 14% increase in global area burned by fires annually with every degree of global warming.
Human-caused fires in the Western US are growing faster than lightning fires due to climate-driven changes in dryness and heat. The study found that anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions account for 81% of the increases in flammable days, highlighting the need for more accurate fire risk models.
The 105th Annual Meeting of the American Meteorological Society will address key issues in weather, water, and climate. The meeting features a Presidential Forum on physical, social, cultural, and economic impacts of climate change, with experts from the region of the Mississippi River Delta.
Researchers at University at Buffalo have developed a plasma-electrochemical reactor that produces ammonia from nitrogen in the air and water, with no carbon footprint. The process uses renewable electricity and can be scaled up to meet industrial demands.
Researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder have discovered a link between lightning storms on Earth and high-energy electrons in space. The team found that lightning strikes can knock these 'killer electrons' out of the inner radiation belt, which could pose a threat to satellites and astronauts.
Researchers estimate the dollar value of weather information to be over $100 billion, highlighting its significant economic impact. The study also explores lightning suppression and a unique 'storm generator' technology that can create thunderstorms in Chinese desert.
Researchers have discovered Flickering Gamma-Ray Flashes (FGFs), a phenomenon that could be the missing link between Terrestrial Gamma-ray Flashes and gamma-ray glows. Studies reveal dynamic gamma-ray emissions in tropical thunderclouds, challenging previous assumptions about these events.
Researchers used a retrofitted U2 spy plane to detect gamma radiation in large tropical thunderstorms. Over 9 of 10 flights yielded observations, suggesting more than half of all thunderstorms in the tropics are radioactive.
Researchers using NASA airborne platforms have found a new kind of gamma-ray emission, dubbed flickering gamma-ray flashes, that fills in the missing link between steady glows and brief bursts. These discoveries provide new insights into thundercloud radiation and mechanisms that produce lightning.
Researchers at University of Alaska Fairbanks discovered a phenomenon impacting Earth's radiation belts, affecting the radiation belts with electromagnetic waves from lightning. The discovery provides insight into the behavior of electromagnetic waves in the magnetosphere and its implications for human operations in space.
Scientists have recorded X-rays being produced at the beginning of upward positive lightning flashes, providing valuable insights into the origins of this rare and dangerous form of lightning. The observations, made possible by a unique setup in Switzerland, support the cold runaway electron model theory of lightning formation.
A new study finds that extreme tropical cyclone rainfall is increasing across the continental US, while climate warming restricts 'outdoor days' for people living in developing countries. Additionally, air pollution increases mortality risks from heat, especially when combined with other factors like wildfires and reduced aerosols.
A new study improves thunderstorm forecasting by utilizing Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES-R) lightning flash observations. The implementation of the EnVAR assimilation capabilities successfully enhances the forecasting performance, especially over regions lacking operational weather radar observations.
Research reveals that lightning ignitions account for 77% of burned areas in intact extratropical forests, which store vast quantities of carbon. Climate change is projected to increase lightning frequency, posing a significant threat to these forests and the planet's carbon storage.
A team of space physicists used NASA's Parker Solar Probe to analyze whistler waves, finding they originated from disturbances in Venus' weak magnetic fields. The results support a previous study that failed to detect radio waves generated by lightning strikes on the planet.
A new study finds that superbolts, which are less than 1% of total lightning but pack a powerful punch, tend to cluster over areas with short gaps between the electrical charging zone and land or water surface. This allows for higher-energy bolts to form due to reduced electrical resistance.
A Washington State University-led study found that dry lightning can cause wildfires despite up to 7.7 mm of precipitation, posing a risk for responders to detect fires earlier. The research analyzed data on over 4,600 naturally caused fires and found holdover fires, which can smolder for days before exploding into full-blown wildfires.
A new tree forensics project, Gigante, aims to investigate the deaths of large tropical trees using drone surveys and on-the-ground observations. The team expects to identify the causes of death for up to 10,000 trees over three years, shedding light on the impact of climate change on forest ecosystems.
A research group led by Kyoto University collected data on gamma-ray glows from thunderstorms, which may help explain the origins of lightning. The team proposes that high-energy particles from space could trigger lightning discharges.
The January 15, 2022, eruption of Hunga Volcano in Tonga created a 'supercharged' thunderstorm that produced nearly 200,000 lightning flashes. Scientists analyzed high-resolution lightning data to gain insights into the eruption's timeline and behavior.
A study by researcher Breno Arsioli Moura investigated the depictions of Benjamin Franklin's famous kite experiment in illustrations published in the 19th century. The study found several inaccuracies, including the incorrect location where the experiment was performed and the method used to harness electricity from the clouds.
New research reveals a strong correlation between El Niño-Southern Oscillation and cloud-to-ground lightning in China. The study found that ENSO events, particularly La Niña, lead to enhanced cloud-to-ground lightning activity in North China and Northeast China.
A team of scientists, led by University of South Florida professor Matthew Pasek, discovered a new phosphorus material in a fulgurite created by a lightning strike. The material is transitional between space minerals and those found on Earth, and its formation could have implications for our understanding of high-energy events.
A Penn State-led team has discovered a new physical mechanism explaining naturally occurring X-rays associated with lightning activity in the Earth's atmosphere. The researchers developed a mathematical model that explains how electric fields amplify electrons, driving the phenomenon of relativistic runaway discharges in air.
A new study reveals that lianas play a crucial role in amplifying the effects of lightning strikes, resulting in more severe damage to neighboring trees. High liana density is positively associated with the number of trees killed and damaged by lightning.
Brazilian researchers used a high-speed camera to capture an image of lightning rods trying to connect to nearby buildings, revealing details of the connections. The image shows that even with multiple lightning rods in place, the strike connected to a smokestack on top of one building, highlighting the importance of proper installation.
A POSTECH research team has developed a deep-learning approach to enhance resolution and speed in photoacoustic computed tomography (PACT) imaging. The technique enables high-resolution, real-time whole-body imaging of animals and monitors tissue movement in the heart, kidney, and brain.
Researchers find that electrical discharge in Martian dust storms could be a major driving force of the planet's chlorine cycle. The study reveals high yields of chlorine gases from common chlorides when electrified by Martian conditions, indicating a promising pathway for converting surface chlorides to atmospheric phases.
A European consortium has successfully guided lightning using a high-power laser installed at the top of Mount Säntis in Switzerland, increasing the radius of protection from 120m to 180m. The Laser Lightning Rod (LLR) works even in poor weather conditions, such as fog.
A University of South Australia physicist has solved the long-standing mystery of lightning's zig-zag pattern and dark electric column. The breakthrough explains how singlet-delta metastable oxygen molecules create these steps.
New research finds climate change could lead to more frequent lightning strikes over mountains and Northern Europe, triggering increased wildfire risks. However, relatively fewer lightning hazards are expected over populated areas of Central Europe.
Researchers have developed a novel hydrogel-glass design that enhances indoor illumination while reducing cooling consumption, demonstrating potential for widespread energy savings in buildings. The study published in Frontiers of Optoelectronics shows significant reductions in energy use ranging from 2.37 to 10.45 MJ·m−2 ·year−1.
Scientists studied lightning's impact on Panama Canal forests, finding that some tree species, like palms, are more likely to die after a strike. Others, with denser wood and larger water vessels, are more resistant and may even store more carbon.
Researchers at Hebrew University of Jerusalem discovered that coarse sea spray significantly reduces the amount of lightning in storm clouds. The study found that aerosols larger than 1 micron, or coarse sea spray, inhibit lightning by up to 90%, while smaller aerosols actually increase lightning and affect rainfall.
A 3D study of a massive electrical discharge in an Oklahoma thunderstorm has provided new information about gigantic jets. The discharge carried 100 times as much electrical charge as typical lightning bolts, and included relatively cool plasma streamers and hot leader structures.
Researchers at the University of New Hampshire have made a groundbreaking discovery about the origin of lightning using radio telescopes. They found that the sources of lightning are indeed the streamers, or tiny spark-like discharges, supporting one of two competing theories on how lightning begins.
Researchers at Durham University have identified a medieval text written by Benedictine monk Gervase of Christ Church Cathedral Priory as the earliest known account of ball lightning in England. The description, composed around 1200, matches historical and modern reports of the phenomenon.
A 2020 volcanic eruption in the Philippines showed how explosive eruptions can create lightning, shedding light on the eruption's behavior. The study used global lightning detection, satellite images, and social media photos to characterize the eruption.
Researchers at Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology developed a graphene sensor that detects electric fields with improved efficiency and reduced size. The mechanism involves the transfer of charges between graphene and traps, allowing for the detection of field polarity and magnitude.