is there such a thing as heat lightning?

Answer 1

Heat lightning, you see, is not a unique form of lightning, but normal thunderstorm lightning that flashes too far away from the observer for its thunder to be heard. It is most commonly presented as sheet lightning, which is actually a standard lightning bolt whose light is reflected off cumulonimbus cloud towers or is diffused as it passes through the atmosphere and thus loses its distinctive bolt pattern

Answer 2

"If a lightning strike is a sufficient distance from the observer, sound from the strike will not be heard. These silent bolts are called heat lightning. Lightning bolts produce thunder, but the thunder sound does not travel all the way to the observer if the observer is too far away.

The movement of sound in the atmosphere depends on the atmospheric properties of the air such as temperature and density. Because temperature and density change with height, the sound of thunder is refracted through the troposphere. This refraction results in spaces of volume in which the thunder does not propagate through.

The sound of thunder often reflects off the earth's surface. The rumbling sound from thunder is partly due to reflections off the earth's surface. This reflection and refraction leaves voids where thunder can not be heard.

The earth's curvature also contributes to people far from the strike from not hearing it. Thunder is more likely to be bounced off the earth's surface before it reaches an observer far from the strike. With this said, the right refraction and reflection can result in people on the earth's surface being able to hear thunder at very far distances from the storm. The reflection and refraction in the troposphere determines who hears the strike and who doesn't.

The term "heat" in heat lighting has little to do with temperature. Since heat lightning is most likely to be seen in association with air mass thunderstorms in the warm season, the term "heat" may have been used because these flashes are often seen when surface temperatures are warm." --- http://www.theweatherprediction.com/habyhints/274/

Answer 3

I agree with previous answer, it is just lightning that is too far away to hear the resulting thunder, and to see the actual bolt itself. I hear a lot of people swearing that there really is a thing called heat lightning, but they are the same ones that believe that man is the cause of global warmnig and that John Kerry was a viable candidate.

Answer 4

Yes, but its a misnomer. Heat lightning, is just lightning. The conditions necessary for lightning to occur mostly happen in a pattern easily recognized. Sometimes all the requirements for lightning are met, but the usual patterns we associate with lightning are not present. Its still just lightning.

Answer 5

I agree with the others, it just too far away for you to hear the thunder.

Answer 6

yes

Answer 7

yeah