A weather station in the Shetland Islands has one of the world’s best-preserved long records of atmospheric electricity.
Articles on Lightning
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A new study shows how often lightning strikes and how it behaves, often hitting the ground with multiple strikes from the same flash.
North America’s boreal forests have been burning a lot, probably more and more over the past 60 years. Yet the long-term trend indicates that they are burning less than they were 150 years ago.
Extreme weather events are complex – and working out exactly how much damage climate change caused is a tricky task.
More homes are burning in wildfires in nearly every Western state. The reason? Humans.
This high voltage experiment isn’t one you’ll be able to try at home.
Lightning doesn’t travel in a straight line, with many so-called ‘leaders’ coming down from the cloud in a series of jagged steps. Until now, no one has known why.
Lightning kills 24,000 people each year. Here’s how to stay safe during an electrical storm.
Fires today are hotter and more destructive, thanks in part to a warming climate.
Tasmania’s drying climate is seeing more bushfires ignited by lightning strikes. To protect the state’s World Heritage wilderness, we must use sustainable fire management practices.
Some trees explode into bits when lightning strikes. Some seem fine and die later. But others are unaffected.
This tool can identify cause of death by fatal lightning strike in skeletonised remains.
Monsoons are weather patterns that bring thunderstorms and heavy rains to hot, dry areas when warm, moist ocean air moves inland. They’re challenging to forecast, especially in a changing climate.
Lightning strikes may have helped spark life on Earth, and may be continuing to help life start on other Earth-like planets.
The method, using satellite data and other information, could reduce the work of fire forensics teams after bushfires.
Persistent heat waves and dry lightning are part of the problem. For firefighters, the erratic behavior gets dangerous quickly.
When you look at the squiggly lines on Joy Division’s famous album cover, you’re seeing a record of lightning in outer space.
Climate change is making Tasmania more vulnerable to brutal fire conditions.
There are many reasons to be careful when there’s a big storm. But there are also ways you can protect yourself to avoid lightning.
When you see a bolt of lightning, do you immediately start counting to see how far off a storm is? An atmospheric scientist parses the practice.
Top contributors
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Meteorologist and Research Program Manager, University of Wisconsin-Madison
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Assistant Professor of Atmospheric Sciences, University of North Dakota
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Professor of Pyrogeography and Fire Science, University of Tasmania
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Adjunct Research Professor of Physics, Adelaide University
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Senior Lecturer in Climatology, Director, Climate Futures Program, University of Tasmania
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Senior Specialist, University of Pretoria
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Lecturer in Mathematics, University of Dundee
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Associate Professor of Geosciences, University of South Florida
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Space Plasma Physicist, Imperial College London
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Chief Scientist at SA Weather Service: Nowcasting and very short range forecasting and part-time lecturer at the University of Pretoria, University of Pretoria
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Assistant State Climatologist and Research Scientist in Atmospheric Science, Colorado State University
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Atmospheric Physicist, Climate Futures Programme, University of Tasmania
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Tomas Remenyi is a Friend of The Conversation.
Climate Research Fellow, Climate Futures Programme, University of Tasmania
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Ph.D. Student, Dept. of Geography, University of Colorado Boulder
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Professor of Physical Geography (Climate Science), Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington