Editing Lightning (section)

== Distribution, frequency and properties<span class="anchor" id="Distribution and frequency"></span> ==
{{main|Distribution of lightning}}
[[File: Global Lightning Frequency.png|thumb|Data obtained from April 1995 to February 2003 from [[NASA]]'s Optical Transient Detector depicting space-based sensors revealing the uneven distribution of worldwide lightning strikes]]
[[File:Megaflash of 477 miles.png|thumb|A {{convert|768|km|mi|abbr=on}} megaflash from [[Texas]] to [[Louisiana]], in the United States.<ref name=BAMS>{{citation |title=New WMO Certified Megaflash Lightning Extremes for Flash Distance (768 km) and Duration (17.01 seconds) Recorded from Space |author=Randall Cerveny |collaboration=WMO panel |doi=10.1175/BAMS-D-21-0254.1 |journal=Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society |date=February 1, 2022|hdl=2117/369605 |s2cid=246358397 |doi-access=free |hdl-access=free }}</ref>]]

Global monitoring indicates that lightning on [[Earth]] occurs at an average frequency of approximately 44&nbsp;(±&nbsp;5) times per second, equating to nearly 1.4 [[1,000,000,000 (number)|billion]] flashes per year.<ref name="EncyWorldClim freq">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-mwbAsxpRr0C&pg=PA452|title=Encyclopedia of World Climatology|access-date=February 8, 2009|publisher=[[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]]|author=Oliver, John E.| isbn=978-1-4020-3264-6|date=2005}}</ref> Median duration is 0.52 seconds<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Kákona |first1=Jakub |title=In situ ground-based mobile measurement of lightning events above central Europe |journal=Atmospheric Measurement Techniques|year=2023 |volume=16 |issue=2 |pages=547–561 |doi=10.5194/amt-16-547-2023 |bibcode=2023AMT....16..547K |s2cid=253187897 |doi-access=free }}</ref> made up from a number of much shorter flashes (strokes) of around 60 to 70 [[microsecond]]s.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/electric/lightning2.html|title=Lightning|work=gsu.edu|access-date=December 30, 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160115043319/http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/electric/lightning2.html|archive-date=January 15, 2016}}</ref> Occurrences are distributed unevenly across the planet with about 70% being over land in the [[tropics]]<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5oZUAAAAMAAJ&q=70%25+of+lightning+occurs+in+tropics+on+land|title=Encyclopedia of atmospheric sciences|last1=Holton|first1=James R.|last2=Curry|first2=Judith A.|last3=Pyle|first3=J. A.|date=2003|publisher=Academic Press|isbn=9780122270901|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171104190958/https://books.google.com/books?id=5oZUAAAAMAAJ&q=70%25+of+lightning+occurs+in+tropics+on+land&dq=70%25+of+lightning+occurs+in+tropics+on+land&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjq6bqvrbzUAhUC4GMKHRR6AUkQ6AEINzAF|archive-date=November 4, 2017}}</ref> where [[atmospheric convection]] is the greatest.

Many factors affect the frequency, distribution, strength and physical properties of a typical lightning flash in a particular region of the world. These factors include ground elevation, [[latitude]], [[prevailing wind]] currents, [[relative humidity]], and proximity to warm and cold bodies of water.{{citation needed|date=February 2025}}

Lightning is usually produced by [[cumulonimbus]] clouds, which have bases that are typically {{cvt|1|-|2|km}} above the ground and tops up to {{convert|15|km|mi|abbr=on}} in height.

[[File:LightningStrike240FPS.webm|thumb|A lightning strike captured at 240 FPS during a severe thunderstorm in [[Mango Hill, Queensland|Mango Hill]], Australia.]]

In general, CG lightning flashes account for only 25% of all total lightning flashes worldwide. The proportions of intra-cloud, cloud-to-cloud, and cloud-to-ground lightning may also vary by [[season]] at latitude.<ref name="price1993">{{cite journal |last1=Price |first1=Colin |last2=Rind |first2=David |title=What determines the cloud-to-ground lightning fraction in thunderstorms? |journal=Geophysical Research Letters |date=1993 |volume=20 |issue=6 |pages=463–466 |doi=10.1029/93GL00226 |bibcode=1993GeoRL..20..463P }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Bandholnopparat |first1=K. |last2=Sato |first2=M. |last3=Adachi |first3=T. |last4=Ushio |first4=T. |last5=Takahashi |first5=Y. |title=Estimation of the IC to CG Ratio Using JEM-GLIMS and Ground-Based Lightning Network Data |journal=Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres |date=2020 |volume=125 |issue=23 |pages=e2019JD032195 |doi=10.1029/2019JD032195 |bibcode=2020JGRD..12532195B }}</ref> In the tropics, where the freezing level is generally higher in the atmosphere, only 10% of lightning flashes are CG. At the latitude of Norway (around 60° North latitude), where the freezing elevation is lower, 50% of lightning is CG.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2001/ast05dec_1/|date=December 5, 2001|title=Where LightningStrikes|publisher=NASA Science. Science News.|access-date=July 5, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100716173018/http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2001/ast05dec_1/|archive-date=July 16, 2010}}</ref><ref>[[#Uman|Uman (1986)]] Ch. 8, p. 68.</ref>

[[File:Lighting barrage.jpg|thumb|Multiple lightning strikes in [[Poland]] in August 2020]]
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[File:LIRM anomaly with archaeological hearths.jpg|thumb|upright|Lightning-induced remanent magnetization (LIRM) mapped during a magnetic field gradient survey of an archaeological site located in Wyoming, United States.]] -->

The place on Earth where lightning occurs most often is over [[Lake Maracaibo]], wherein the [[Catatumbo lightning]] phenomenon produces 250 bolts of lightning a day.<ref name="TRMM">{{cite web |author1=R. I. Albrecht |author2=S. J. Goodman |author3=W. A. Petersen |author4=D. E. Buechler |author5=E. C. Bruning |author6=R. J. Blakeslee |author7=H. J. Christian |title=The 13 years of TRMM Lightning Imaging Sensor: From individual flash characteristics to decadal tendencies |url=https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/20110015779/downloads/20110015779.pdf |website=NASA Technical Reports Server |access-date=November 23, 2022}}</ref> This activity occurs on average, 297 days a year.<ref name=":2">Fischetti, M. (2016) [https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-world-s-top-lightning-hotspot-is-lake-maracaibo-in-venezuela/ Lightning Hotspots], Scientific American 314: 76 (May 2016)</ref><!-- This should probably be cite journal instead of cite web--> The second most lightning density is near the village of [[Kifuka]] in the mountains of the eastern [[Democratic Republic of the Congo]],<ref name=":1">{{cite web|url=http://www.wondermondo.com/Countries/Af/CongoDR/SudKivu/Kifuka.htm|title=Kifuka – place where lightning strikes most often|access-date=November 21, 2010|publisher=Wondermondo|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111001201900/http://www.wondermondo.com/Countries/Af/CongoDR/SudKivu/Kifuka.htm|archive-date=October 1, 2011|date=November 7, 2010}}</ref> where the [[elevation]] is around {{convert|975|m|ft|-2|abbr=on}}. On average, this region receives {{convert|158|/km2/years|/sqmi/years|adj=pre|lightning strikes}}.<ref name="NOAA freq">{{cite web|url=http://sos.noaa.gov/datasets/Atmosphere/lightning.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080330025304/http://sos.noaa.gov/datasets/Atmosphere/lightning.html|archive-date=March 30, 2008|title=Annual Lightning Flash Rate |access-date=February 8, 2009|publisher=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration}}</ref> Other lightning hotspots include [[Singapore]]<ref name="nea">{{cite web|url=http://app.nea.gov.sg/cms/htdocs/article.asp?pid=1203|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927224804/http://app.nea.gov.sg/cms/htdocs/article.asp?pid=1203|archive-date=September 27, 2007|title=Lightning Activity in Singapore|access-date=September 24, 2007|publisher=National Environmental Agency|date=2002}}</ref> and [[Lightning Alley]] in Central [[Florida]].<ref name="alley">{{cite web|url=http://www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/news/lightning_alley.html|title=Staying Safe in Lightning Alley|access-date=September 24, 2007|publisher=NASA|date=January 3, 2007|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070713041430/http://www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/news/lightning_alley.html|archive-date=July 13, 2007}}</ref><ref name="fe">{{cite web|url=http://www.floridaenvironment.com/programs/fe00703.htm |title=Summer Lightning Ahead |access-date=September 24, 2007 |publisher=Florida Environment.com |date=2000 |author=Pierce, Kevin |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071012160959/http://floridaenvironment.com/programs/fe00703.htm |archive-date=October 12, 2007 }}</ref>

According to the [[World Meteorological Organization]], on April 29, 2020, a bolt 768&nbsp;km (477.2&nbsp;mi) long was observed in the southern U.S.—sixty km (37&nbsp;mi) longer than the previous distance record (southern Brazil, October 31, 2018).<ref name=Phys_20220201/> A single flash in Uruguay and northern Argentina on June 18, 2020, lasted for 17.1 seconds—0.37 seconds longer than the previous record (March 4, 2019, also in northern Argentina).<ref name=Phys_20220201>{{cite web |last1=Larson |first1=Nina |title=770-km US megaflash sets new lightning record |url=https://phys.org/news/2022-02-longest-lightning-miles-states.html |website=Phys.org |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220201111718/https://phys.org/news/2022-02-longest-lightning-miles-states.html |archive-date=February 1, 2022 |date=February 1, 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Researchers at the University of Florida found that the final one-dimensional speeds of 10 flashes observed were between 1.0{{e|5}} and 1.4{{e|6}} m/s, with an average of 4.4{{e|5}} m/s.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Thomson|first=E. M.|author2=Uman, M. A. |author3=Beasley, W. H. |title=Speed and current for lightning stepped leaders near ground as determined from electric field records|journal=Journal of Geophysical Research|date=January 1985|volume=90|issue=D5|page=8136|doi=10.1029/JD090iD05p08136|bibcode=1985JGR....90.8136T}}</ref>

=== Extraterrestrial ===
Lightning has been observed within the [[Celestial body atmosphere|atmospheres]] of [[planet]]s other than Earth, such as [[Jupiter]], [[Saturn]],<ref name=":3" /> and probably [[Uranus]] and [[Neptune]].<ref name=":3">{{Cite journal |last1=Harrison |first1=R. G. |last2=Aplin |first2=K. L. |last3=Leblanc |first3=F. |last4=Yair |first4=Y. |date=June 1, 2008 |title=Planetary Atmospheric Electricity |url=https://doi.org/10.1007/s11214-008-9419-z |journal=Space Science Reviews |language=en |volume=137 |issue=1 |pages=5–10 |doi=10.1007/s11214-008-9419-z |bibcode=2008SSRv..137....5H |s2cid=122675522 |issn=1572-9672}}</ref> Lightning on Jupiter is far more energetic than on Earth, despite seeming to be generated via the same mechanism. Recently, a new type of lightning was detected on Jupiter, thought to originate from "mushballs" including ammonia.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Becker |first1=Heidi N. |last2=Alexander |first2=James W. |last3=Atreya |first3=Sushil K. |last4=Bolton |first4=Scott J. |last5=Brennan |first5=Martin J. |last6=Brown |first6=Shannon T. |last7=Guillaume |first7=Alexandre |last8=Guillot |first8=Tristan |last9=Ingersoll |first9=Andrew P. |last10=Levin |first10=Steven M. |last11=Lunine |first11=Jonathan I. |last12=Aglyamov |first12=Yury S. |last13=Steffes |first13=Paul G. |date=August 2020 |title=Small lightning flashes from shallow electrical storms on Jupiter |url=https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-020-2532-1 |journal=Nature |language=en |volume=584 |issue=7819 |pages=55–58 |doi=10.1038/s41586-020-2532-1 |pmid=32760043 |bibcode=2020Natur.584...55B |s2cid=220980694 |issn=1476-4687}}</ref> On Saturn, lightning, initially referred to as "Saturn Electrostatic Discharge", was discovered by the [[Voyager 1]] mission.<ref name=":3" />

Lightning on Venus has been a controversial subject after decades of study. During the Soviet [[Venera]] and U.S. [[Pioneer program|Pioneer]] missions of the 1970s and 1980s, signals suggesting lightning may be present in the upper atmosphere were detected.<ref name="plasma">{{cite journal|url=http://www-ssc.igpp.ucla.edu/~strange/JATP_paper/JATP_title.html|title=Plasma Wave Evidence for Lightning on Venus|access-date=September 24, 2007|journal=Journal of Atmospheric and Terrestrial Physics|volume=57|pages=537–556|date=1995|author=Strangeway, Robert J.|bibcode=1995JATP...57..537S|doi=10.1016/0021-9169(94)00080-8|issue=5|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071012160656/http://www-ssc.igpp.ucla.edu/~strange/JATP_paper/JATP_title.html|archive-date=October 12, 2007}}</ref> The short [[Cassini–Huygens]] mission fly-by of Venus in 1999 detected no signs of lightning, but radio pulses recorded by the spacecraft ''[[Venus Express]]'' (which began orbiting Venus in April 2006) may originate from lightning on Venus.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Lorenz |first=Ralph D. |date=June 20, 2018 |title=Lightning detection on Venus: a critical review |journal=Progress in Earth and Planetary Science |volume=5 |issue=1 |pages=34 |doi=10.1186/s40645-018-0181-x |bibcode=2018PEPS....5...34L |s2cid=49563740 |issn=2197-4284|doi-access=free }}</ref>