Rapid Fire
Lightning Rods and Lightning Strikes
- 14 Nov 2024
- 1 min read
The frequency and intensity of lightning strikes are rising globally, driven by climate change- induced increases in temperatures and atmospheric moisture, as warm air and moisture promote cloud formation and charge separation.
- About Lightning Strikes: Lightning is a natural electrical discharge that occurs during storms due to a buildup of static electricity in the atmosphere.
- This buildup happens when water droplets in clouds freeze into ice crystals, which rub against each other, generating a static charge that ultimately results in lightning strikes.
- About Lightning Rod: A lightning rod is a conductive object installed at the highest point of a structure to attract lightning and provide a controlled path for its discharge.
- Lightning moves towards the object with the highest electric potential.
- The shape of the rod creates a stronger electric field, ionising the air around it and providing a route for the current to flow. The rod directs lightning into the ground, where the earth safely absorbs and dissipates the charge.
