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Thread: Volcanic Lightning

  1. #1
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    Default Volcanic Lightning

    Thought this looked cool!


    Volcanic lightning is seen above Mount Shinmoedake in Japan as it erupts.

    It is not clear why bolts of lightning are sometimes seen within erupting volcanoes.

    One theory is that that the spewing magma bubbles or particles of volcanic ash are themselves electrically charged, and by their motion create separately charged areas...

    Picture: REUTERS
    * Bill Paxton is the only actor to be killed by Alien, a Terminator, and the Predator.

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  • #2
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    The reason for lightning is the same as it is for thunderstorms.
    A convective cycle of charge carriers.

    Now if you can explain in detail, with accuracy and demonstrate how this happens, you're in the running for a nobel prize.

    In a thunderstorm we have three things in the convective column.
    Air, Ice and water. All you have to do is explain how these things moving around pick up the charge and move it. Like a Van-de-Graff generator.

    In a Volcano there is also three components. Air, lava and ash.
    Again, the question is what carries the charge and how it does it move it.
    Yes I am an agent of Satan, but my duties are largely ceremonial.

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    Default

    You are right though that does look amazing, two natural phenomena in action at once!

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    Reminds me a bit of the 747 that experienced St Elmo's fire when flying through volcanic ash that was featured on Air Crash Investigations.

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    I would imagine the extremely hot gas and ash-filled air very close to the lava would almost be a plasma anyway. Wouldn't think it would take much to ignite it.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Learjet View Post
    Reminds me a bit of the 747 that experienced St Elmo's fire when flying through volcanic ash that was featured on Air Crash Investigations.
    It wasn't St Elmos fire. The pilots thought it was, but it was volcanic ash they were seeing on their windshield.

    That was part of the problem, if they knew what it was, they wouldn't have kept flying into it.
    Yes I am an agent of Satan, but my duties are largely ceremonial.

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    static electricity, 2 insulators + friction+ heat + h2o sheet im lost

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    Default

    looks like the opening scene of monkey....

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