2006-06-30 00:27:01 · 6 answers · asked by Courtney S 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Zoology
No animals in the ocean cannot be struck by lightening generally speaking because the creatures are not on the surface of the water like a boat. When the lightening hits the water, it's energy is discharged on the surface, not below the surface.
2006-06-30 00:55:55 · answer #1 · answered by Zene P 1 · 5⤊ 2⤋
Lightning does strike the ocean and could therefore strike an animal (seal or whale?) sticking out above the water. The chance of a direct strike should be very small. The greater danger is being too near the lightning strike where the voltage differential is very high. This is also true on land. There was a case where lightning struck the ground near a farmer and his cow. Both were shocked but the farmer survived and the cow died. The explanation was that when the bolt hit the ground, the electrical energy spread out (like an instantaneous wave on a mill pond?). The lightning went up the farmer's toes and out his heals (only a one foot distance) while it went up the cow's fore legs and out the hind legs (a distance of perhaps five feet). The cow got perhaps five times the shock as the man and the electricity passed through its vital organs. In the water, the electrical gradient can pass through an animal (or man!) a considerable distance from the strike and may involve thousands of volts until it spreads out. When an electrical storm approaches, it is always best to get to shore and out of the water if swimming.
2006-06-30 01:27:50 · answer #2 · answered by Kes 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I don't see why it's not possible. I'm sure it's happened before! I mean, you have to figure, 75% of the globe is covered in water, so I would say there is definately a chance that animals in the ocean could get struck. Probably not as likely as a person or animal on ground. Because the ocean is such a large and deep place! And most of the animals are fairly small and constantly moving, making the chances of a direct strike on one of those nearly impossible. But, on something like a whale... why not?? Anything's possible right?
2006-06-30 00:34:03 · answer #3 · answered by rocknrobin21 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I wouldn't think so due to the enormous amount of water there is. Maybe if by some freak of nature that a whale or dolphin surfaces at the same time a strike happens.
2006-06-30 00:35:47 · answer #4 · answered by deathdealer 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because the charge is small in the ocean like it is when it hit the ground.
2006-06-30 00:30:39 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
They cant and just because.
2006-06-30 00:30:23 · answer #6 · answered by ? 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋