• Question: Hello, I would like to know what causes lightning?

    Asked by fluffyninjapig to Laura, Asif, Lena, Sean, Viv on 13 Mar 2012. This question was also asked by rusty1556, scientistj11, elliejade.
    • Photo: Laura Waters

      Laura Waters answered on 12 Mar 2012:

      Fulminologists study lightning. They are still not completely sure what causes it but it is an electrical charge that builds up and builds up in a cloud until it reaches a point where it comes back to earth as a bolt of lightning.

    • Photo: Sean Murphy

      Sean Murphy answered on 13 Mar 2012:

      Lightning is produced in thunderstorms when liquid and ice particles above the freezing level collide, and build up large electrical fields in the clouds. Once these electric fields become large enough, a giant “spark” occurs between them (or between them and the ground) like static electricity, reducing the charge separation. The lightning spark can occur between clouds, between the cloud and air, or between the cloud and ground.

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