Cosmic rays explain lightning origin

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lightning formation

Space

•

Science

Cosmic rays may be the elusive spark for lightning here on Earth

Summary

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86% Informative

3 million lightning strikes occur on Earth every day, according to the U.K. Met Office .

A new study suggests that one driver of lightning may have an extraterrestrial origin.

The strongest electric field ever detected inside storm clouds was 10 times weaker than what would be needed to spark lightning.

The findings are based on observations of a single storm on July 30, 2022 .

Tereza is a London -based science and technology journalist, aspiring fiction writer and amateur gymnast.

Originally from Prague , she spent the first seven years of her career working as a reporter, script-writer and presenter for Czech Public Service Television .

She later took a career break to pursue further education and added a Master's in Science from the International Space University , France .

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English

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