what happens when lightning strikes the ocean? does anything happen to the water?
the best answer gets 10 points
2007-06-15 15:26:49 · 9 answers · asked by John B 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Earth Sciences & Geology
does the water steam at all?
2007-06-15 15:37:09 · update #1
Great question! Lightning rarely strikes in open water due to the lack of positive particles in the ocean. The ocean being a vast sea of water covering 2/3 of the earth, easily disaptes the charge throughout the surrounding area. Now it has been thought that large ocean mammels can attract lightning strikes, but no research or creditablity to this notion has been established. Please check the following link for more info.
2007-06-15 15:40:56 · answer #1 · answered by yoda 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Pure water is a poor conductor of electricity, but water with dissolved ions is a very good conductor. Salt provides these ions, so seawater is a good conductor.
Now, the ocean is generally rather deep, and water has a VERY high heat capacity. This means it can absorb a lot of heat energy without its temperature rising much.
The sequence of events would be something like this:
1. A dart leader (a packet of negative charge) descends from the clouds in a jagged path, ionizing the air as it travels.
2. Once the ionization channel is complete, the cloud is essentially short-circuited to the ground.
3. A very large surge of current (the main lightning stroke) flows through the ionized channel, into the ocean, heating the air hot enough to glow bright white and expand rapidly, creating a shock wave (the loud noise).
4. The current flows easily through the water, vaporizing a small amount of water right at the touchdown site. The current quickly spreads out in the water, becoming small within a few hundred feet.
5. The huge amount of cold water nearby rapidly cools the heated area.
6. No trace remains.
2007-06-15 15:39:19 · answer #2 · answered by lithiumdeuteride 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
At the point of lightning strike, the water gets hot and vaporizes. Some dissociates into hydrogen and oxygen molecules. The air at impact is ionized and nitros oxide compounds and ozone molecules are made.
Inside the water the electricity travels the path of least resistance. An Electromagnetic Pulse (field) is also generated. The electricity shocks any thing in its path.
2007-06-15 15:37:32 · answer #3 · answered by telsaar 4 · 4⤊ 0⤋
When lightning strikes the ocean or other large water bodies, it spreads out over the conducting surface. It also penetrates down and can kill fish in the nearby region,
2007-06-15 15:31:49 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
Good answer, Elizabeth! But you forgot to mention the source...
http://www.wonderquest.com/lightning-rotten-meat-mount-everest.htm
2007-06-15 15:34:25 · answer #5 · answered by misen55 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
no reactions because the ocean will be big enough to disperse all the electricity it has o very little amounts
2007-06-15 22:49:54 · answer #6 · answered by nah_too_drunk 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Electricity rapidly diffuses
2007-06-19 14:22:52 · answer #7 · answered by Big K 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Actually it polarises most minerals in the water, and kills things on the very surface. and on rare occasion is makes crystals form.
2007-06-15 15:52:38 · answer #8 · answered by Jeramie I 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
thunder?
2007-06-15 15:32:14 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋