Lightning strikes a tree in the Black Hills of South Dakota at 2:21 p.m. MDT, August 23, 2014. Photo by Bill Gabbert
Tag: lightning
Lightning map, August 14, 2014
The map shows the lightning in the western United States that was recorded during the 24-hour period that ended at 6 a.m. MDT, August 14, 2014. The map was produced by the National Interagency Fire Center.
Copious lightning in the Northwest
Lightning map, Tuesday morning
Lightning map, Monday morning
![Lightning, 24 hours, ending 6 am MDT Aug 11](https://wildfiretoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Lightning-24-hours-ending-6-am-MDT-Aug-11.jpg)
The map shows the recorded lightning strikes for the 24 hour period that ended at 6 a.m. MDT, August 11, 2014. More lightning was expected in the northwest on Monday and Tuesday, the main reason for the red flag warning for Monday morning through Tuesday night in the northwest.
Research: storms on the sun can increase lightning on the Earth
Here is something else to worry about. Researchers have found that intense solar storms on the sun can increase the amount of lightning on the earth. So….. does more solar activity mean more lightning-caused wildfires?
Here is an excerpt from an article at the BBC:
…”The solar wind is not continuous, it has slow and fast streams. Because the Sun rotates, these streams can be sent out behind each other – so if you have a fast solar wind catching up with a slow solar wind, it causes a concentration to occur,” said Dr Scott.
The scientists found that when the speed and intensity of the solar winds increased, so too did the rate of lightning strikes.
The team said the turbulent weather lasted for more than a month after the particles hit the Earth.
Using data from northern Europe, the researchers found there was an average of 422 lightning strikes in the 40 days after the high-speed solar wind arrived, compared with 321 strikes in the 40 days prior…
The finding was surprising, said Dr Scott, because it had been thought that an increase in the solar wind would have the opposite effect.
Thanks and a hat tip go out to Bean.