An incendiary form of lightning may surge under climate change

ScienceNews.org ^ | February 28, 2023 | By Nikk Ogasa

[AF_Blue]

A form of lightning with a knack for sparking wildfires may surge under climate change.

Combine that with elevated levels of methane from cow farts, and there will be a hot time in the old town tonight!

[frithguild]

Women and children hardest hit

[cuz1961]

An analysis of satellite data suggests “hot lightning” — strikes that channel electrical charge for an extended period — may be more likely to set landscapes ablaze than more ephemeral flashes \/ Like these ? \/ . . . . . . . .

[Mathews]

Isn’t ALL lighting incendiary? Doesn’t every strike have the potential to cause a fire?

[cuz1961]

Tell me that’s random hot spots

Tell me that’s random lightning strikes

Tell me my checks in the mail

Tell me it’s climate change lightning starting all the fires.

[Texas Fossil]

Science News?

Head shake. BS!

[logi_cal869]

Is there a ‘stupid science’ category?

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

[Irenic]

And a boogieman, Bloody Bones, may live under the stairs.

[Wonder Warthog]

"Last time I checked lightning ALWAYS had a knack for sparking wildfires..."

Gotta be a ground (or tree) strike. Cloud-to-cloud discharges, not so much. But I agree the article is idiotic.

[bantam]

omg, omg, omg, omg, omg, what does the Pope have to say on this????
I have to know!! What does the Pope have to say about this??

[Noumenon]

There’s also chunk lightning. A strike turns you into one of the 1000 pound sisters.

[V_TWIN]

I live in the state that holds the dubious distinction being the lightning strike capital of the US......that’s why prescribed burns are a way of life here......I can’t remember the last time there was a wildfire here.......what a concept right?

[GingisK]

Oh, for Pete's sake! Lightning, even a single short strike, can set most anything ablaze. We're looking at 10,000 amperes or so. It doesn't take much of that to make things hot.

A lightning bolt is a very fast series of shorter strikes.

[GingisK]

Hey! That looks like fun. Cactus needles will hurt more.

[Nifster]

Still

[Charles Martel]

We need a kinder, gentler form of lightning.

The government could mandate that all incandescent plasma be replaced with something using more environmentally-friendly LED technology.

[Sirius Lee]

All I know is that Assault Lightning has no legitimate sporting use and should be banned.

[guest7]

"Does this mean we’re all gonna die...again???"

Smokestack Lightning

[Sequoyah101]

And that’s it sports fans. The Bull _hit flag has been thrown on the field and a 10 yard penalty has been assessed for stupidity and lying.