Previously Unknown Phenomenon in Lightning Formation Discovered

Scientific group from New Hampshire University Space Science Center recorded a unique phenomenon that runs counter to all previously voiced theoretical calculations.

What is the phenomenon

So the scientific group, during their observations, recorded a unique event that was discovered in thunderclouds before the onset of lightning.

This phenomenon is called "Fast negative decay", which contradicts all theories of charge transfer through air.

This is how a physicist describes his impressions Ningyu Liu: "This is the first time in history that there has been a rapid negative decay."

Relatively recently, scientists have discovered the so-called "Fast positive decay", according to which the formed positive charge in the upper part of the cloud changes to negative already in the middle of the cloud.

Moreover, this downward path flows at a speed of 1/5 of the speed of light and is the likely reason for the formation of lightning.

By the way, this process was originally predicted by theorists.

But the observed phenomenon showed that there is at least one more probable way of the origin of lightning, according to which an ascending path is already formed (opposite to the previously proved and theoretically justified).

In this case, the speed of the ascending negative charge is equal to the fast positive charge. And scientists believe that lightning within a cloud can form in a bidirectional path.

Work in this direction has just begun, and scientists cannot yet say how often lightning is formed as a result of rapid negative decay.

But even the very fact of the discovery of a new phenomenon suggests that despite 250 years of research, it would seem such a simple phenomena like a thunderstorm (lightning), scientists still cannot say how this gigantic spark.

The work done by scientists can be found in detail in the journal Nature Communications.

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