2006-07-09 16:28:23 · 7 answers · asked by Tommy2shoes 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Weather
Heat lightning occurs when the air around the clouds producing the lightning is hotter than normal. at about 100-110 degrees f. the lightning then travels along the clouds instead of the ground because the heat generates a more positive charge. the lightning may be a different color from the uv rays causing the heat. This is more damageing to aircraft than regular lightning. the bolts are about ten to fifty times hotter than normal.
2006-07-09 16:40:58 · answer #1 · answered by Big Jermini 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Is Heat Lightning Real
2016-10-04 05:03:14 · answer #2 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Heat lightning can occur with regular thundershowers, thunderstorms, tornadic storms. Even snow squalls; a convective type of snow shower. As long as lightning is present, heat lightning occurs.
Even though called "heat lightning" this has nothing to do with how hot lightning is. Temperature of the clouds and or air do not make any difference either. The heat lightning you are seeing may be rather hot in nature or not so hot.
A hot bolt of lightning is called a positive flash. These flashes can easily reach temperatures of up to 50,000 degrees F! This may or may not be heat lightning. If you hear the thunder from it, then you can say that was not heat lightning.
A negative flash (cool bolts), most commonly seen has temps up to 30,000 degrees F.
Heat lightning is basically any lightning that can be seen with no thunder heard. The lightning could be seen 25 miles away or 150 miles away. Weird they would call it this though.
Just as long as you see it and hear no thunder, it's heat lightning you are seeing.
Kind of odd how it is put though. Assume: If your friend hears thunder 70 miles from you and you just see the flash. You can say that you just see the heat lightning while your friend saw "plain lightning" because your friend heard the thunder.
2006-07-09 17:00:52 · answer #3 · answered by thunderbomb90 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Lightning is caused by a build up of electrons that flow to an area with less electrons. When the flow of electrons happens across a semi-insulated medium (like the atmosphere) a flash of light occurs, that is lightning. This basic process happens regardless of current atmospheric circumstances, so indeed there is no difference.
2006-07-09 16:36:17 · answer #4 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Heat lightning is normal lightning seen from very far away.
2006-07-09 16:31:33 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
its real, you dont need rain to have lightning..,
2006-07-09 16:32:08 · answer #6 · answered by Kevin R 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
thire is NO such thing as heat lighting. some times lighting at a great distance is refered to as heat lighting.
2006-07-12 10:45:31 · answer #7 · answered by weatherman 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋