Thunderstorm secrets: This is how lightning occurs and what you should pay attention to!

Thunderstorm secrets: This is how lightning occurs and what you should pay attention to!

Thunderstorms are a fascinating and at the same time dangerous natural phenomenon that is caused by rising, moist air masses. These air masses are usually warmer than their surroundings and contribute to the formation of cumulus clouds, which can develop further under certain conditions. This creates the powerful storm clouds known as cumulonimbus, which can reach heights of 10 to 20 kilometers, depending on the geographical location. This creates a complex network of electrical voltages that can reach several million volts. This reports ZVW.

There are strong updrafts in these storm clouds that transport small ice particles upwards. Collisions with larger, liquid water droplets cause charge separation: ice crystals become positively charged, while the water droplets become negatively charged. This separation of charges leads to tensions within the cloud, which can discharge as lightning, whether within the cloud, between different clouds, or between clouds and the ground. Lightning bolts are not only spectacular, but can also be several kilometers long; A particularly long lightning flash was documented in the USA in 2020 with a length of over 750 kilometers.

Dangers and protective measures

Lightning can heat the air to an impressive 30,000 degrees Celsius. This rapid increase in temperature causes an explosive expansion of the air, which is perceived as thunder. Interestingly, this happens so quickly that it exceeds the speed of sound. Therefore, to estimate the distance of a thunderstorm, it is recommended to count the seconds between lightning and thunder and divide the result by three - this simple trick can help you seek shelter in time.

In Germany, more than 1.5 million lightning strikes with a current intensity of at least 5 kA were registered in 2024, which is the highest number since 2018. Of these, around 210,000 lightning bolts struck the ground, on average every two and a half minutes. The strongest lightning strikes that can occur towards the end of a thunderstorm are particularly dangerous. These reach currents of over 150,000 amps and in extreme cases even over 300,000 amps. Shelter should be sought in solid buildings or cars. When outdoors, it is advisable to avoid tall objects and bodies of water.

The smell of rain

A phenomenon familiar to many is the characteristic smell of rain that occurs when the first drops fall on dry ground. This is called a petrichor and is created by a combination of natural oils from plants and the formation of bubbles when raindrops hit. These special scents and the electrical voltage generated by lightning contribute to the unique atmosphere during thunderstorms.

In summary, it can be said that thunderstorms are not only impressive natural events, but also set a variety of physical processes in motion. They increase the electrical voltage between the atmosphere and the ground and therefore act like electrostatic generators. Research on thunderstorms and lightning is important not only for weather forecasting, but also for protecting against lightning damage and improving thunderstorm safety measures.