What is the differance between the kind where you see the streak and the kind that just flashes all across the sky? What causes the differant apearance. Also, what causes ball lightening to form?

i think i remember a thread about balls of lightening somewhere, ill have a look for you if ya want.

huh?
nah, it must have been another forum i saw it.

What is the differance between the kind where you see the streak and the kind that just flashes all across the sky?

This link should answer some of your questions:

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2001/ast05dec_1.htm

Hmm, I thought this was a weight loss thread. :p

I would say that when lightning strikes the ground, there is a disparity in the charge of cloud and sky. When lightning plays in the clouds, the difference of charge is in different parts of the cloud. I miss thunderstorms. Don't see too many in the Pacific Northwest...

I have seen a good site on ball lightning, don't remember where though. Was it a link from this forum or elsewhere? I don't know... Ball lightning is highly contentious though. It has not been proven to exist.

Hmm, I thought this was a weight loss thread. :p

I thought it was a hair colour thread :p

Sorry I can't spell...

As far as ball lightning is concerned (it definitely exists, we're just not sure exactly what it is or why it forms etc) you might like to read this report made by one of my colleagues following an incident in Brecon, Wales:-

http://www.ukweatherworld.co.uk/forum/thread-view.asp?threadid=12531&posts=2

and there's lots more on the Torro (British Tornado and Storm Researxch Organisation) website: http://www.torro.org.uk/research/blightning.htm

British Tornado and Storm Research Organisation? Are there tornadoes there? Sorry i only heard stories of tornadoes in the US.

Ball lightning exists, but its just as puzzling as St. Elmo's Fire.

as far as i understand:
fork:
when an electricly charged cloud earths itself to the ground
sheet:
when two clouds of opposite charges meet they spark(the flash) and then become neutral, then other electrons all rush away from charges towards the neutral zone and that causes a continuous cycle until there is no charge left

Lightning hit a house two down from mine last weekend. Went up in giant flames. It was so loud we thought it hit our house. Scary.

I know, slightly off topic but I just want to mention ...

Originally posted by Hypercane
British Tornado and Storm Research Organisation? Are there tornadoes there? Sorry i only heard stories of tornadoes in the US.

Tonadoes happen everywhere ... well almost everywhere. This picture shows global distribution of tornadoes.

http://www.u.arizona.edu/~korine/230/images/chapter11/FIG11_021.JPG

The reason why you only hear of tornadoes in the US is because ... well ... that we're lucky enough to have the best conditions for them all year long. It also has to do with the fact that the US has a high population density so when a tornado is formed ... it is most likely seen and reported ... and these tornadoes are almost sure to cause regional damage with urban areas in every direction.

whiney americans

...and these tornadoes are almost sure to cause regional damage with urban areas in every direction.

Actually, I kinda think most tornados scare a few cows and tear up some farmers fields. We have much more open land compared to urban areas than other parts of the world (Europe). And they are on the ground for such a short period of time that most of the time the damage is minimal. I grew up in tornado alley and never once did a tornado come through town. The most deadly tornado on record was the <a href="http://www.crh.noaa.gov/pah/1925/">tri-state tornado</a> in 1925. 695 deaths in 219 miles. The reason so many people were killed by it is because it resembled a dust storm. No one saw it coming and prepared for it.

That's why I refrained from saying "always sure to cause damage". It was safer to say "almost sure" to account for times when tornadoes come and go without damaging anything. I know how short lived most tornadoes are and the damage they cause varies on the path they take once they hit the ground and what happens to be in the way.

Just a piece of info to add for the heck of it (in case some people aren't aware) ... an interesting thing about tornadoes is that they are only damaging in the immediate vincinity of the vortex (whether its 10 meters or 1 Km in diameter). A tornado can pass 15 meters from your house and not recieve 10$ worth of damage. However, if a flying cow comes crashing through your home ... then its another story.

Yeah, tornadoes are pretty strange. You can have a house on one side of the street standing and a concrete foundation on the other in the aftermath.