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Re: The cosmic start of lightning

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Sam Wormley <swormley1@gmail.com> wrote:
> The cosmic start of lightning
>   http://phys.org/news/2015-07-cosmic-lightning.html
> 
>   Even though lightning is a common phenomenon, the exact
>   mechanism triggering a lightning discharge remains elusive.
>   Scientists at the Dutch national research institute for
>   mathematics CWI, the University of Groningen and the
>   University of Brussels now published a realistic model
>   involving large ice particles and cosmic rays.
> 
>   The big picture of lightning is clear: charge separation
>   occurs inside a thundercloud and is eventually
>   short-circuited by a conductive tube of ionized air.
>   However, the electric field inside these clouds is usually
>   an order of magnitude too low to create the conductive tube.
>   This is why lightning inception is first out of the 'top ten
>   questions in lightning research', according to a recent
>   review.
 
Pointy things (trees, lightning rods, etc.) cause a localized increase
in the field which lowers the flashover point.

Ever scotch tape a thumb tack to a Van de Graaff generator?


-- 
Jim Pennino

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The cosmic start of lightning Sam Wormley <swormley1@gmail.com> - 2016-05-07 14:49 -0500
  Re: The cosmic start of lightning jimp@specsol.spam.sux.com - 2016-05-07 20:40 +0000
    Re: The cosmic start of lightning john <johnsefton288@gmail.com> - 2016-05-07 14:51 -0700
      Re: The cosmic start of lightning "nuny@bid.nes" <Alien8752@gmail.com> - 2016-05-07 17:07 -0700
    Re: The cosmic start of lightning Fabian Russell <fb@zen.info> - 2016-05-07 22:54 +0000
      Re: The cosmic start of lightning jimp@specsol.spam.sux.com - 2016-05-07 23:50 +0000
        Re: The cosmic start of lightning Fabian Russell <fb@zen.info> - 2016-05-08 00:50 +0000
          Re: The cosmic start of lightning jimp@specsol.spam.sux.com - 2016-05-08 02:50 +0000
  Re: The cosmic start of lightning "reber g=emc^2" <herbertglazier0@gmail.com> - 2016-05-10 12:55 -0700
    Re: The cosmic start of lightning "hanson" <hanson@quick.net> - 2016-05-10 21:22 -0700

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