You know well about the generators of electric power stations that produce electric power from water. There are some natural generators as well, provided by our nature – thunders and lightning. When monsoon arrives the sky darkens and exhibits some strange characteristics and shows its anger in the form of thunder and lightning. Through certain reactions that take place in the atmosphere, sky is producing electricity in the form of lightning. Through this article, I am giving you a brief summary of this lovely creation of nature – the natural generators; of course they are dangerous too!

How lightning occurs?

Rain clouds are the assimilations of million of tiny water droplets. When these clouds are traveling long distance through the atmosphere, they get electrically charged due to their collision with dust particles of atmosphere. It results in the increase of pressure inside layers of clouds, yet tolerates up to extend. Atmosphere with the thickness of 1 cm can tolerate up to 30,000 colts and when it exceeds that limit, it cracks resulting in the emission of electrons. The negative charged electrons from cloud layers flow towards positive charged clouds or earth in the form of electric charges and the surrounding temperature increases as well. Thus, in the severe hot conditions those shining air particles appear to us as lightning. When the heated air expands and drifts suddenly in super express speed it gives a cracking voice – thunder!

Is Nitrogen needed?

Plants need nitrogen for their health and growth. The major percentage of nitrogen is produced through lightning. So, it’s a nature’s help for living beings of earth. When lightning occurs nitrogen in the atmosphere combines with oxygen to form nitric acid and comes to earth dissolved in rain water. That’s the reason why, after a rain all plants around us look so fresh. Some bacteria found in the roots of legumes are also able to do this nitrogen fixation process.

Some lightening talks

• Lightening is most found in places between 30 degree north and 30 degree south of equator.
• 90% of lightening is formed either in clouds or in between cloud layers.
• Duration of a lightening is 0.0005 to 0.5 seconds
• Lightning splits nitrogen, oxygen and water molecules of atmosphere.
• Length of a single lightening ranges from 100 meter to 9 km.
• Lightening travels in the speed of 30000 times of that of a bullet.
• Only one in 3 lakh lightening are affecting earth and its people

Can’t we prevent lightening?

It’s a myth that lightning conductors can protect you from dangers. But it’s able to absorb a few lightning rays and conduct them to earth thus reducing the effect.

Light first, sound second

Though thunder and lightening occur together, we see light first as light travels twice faster than sound. Even if we see lightning we hear thunder sound, only if we are within 16 kms. Depending upon the time lag between thunder and lightening we can calculate how distant that place is from us. 

Lakhs of lightening every day

According to reports, 80 lakh lightening are occurring everyday in our earth among which only 100 are dangerous. Every year 400 people are dying due to lightening shocks, more than 1000 injured and about 7000 get fire treats. Once 21 people were killed due to a single lightening shock and it’s recorded in Guinness records as well. It occurred in 1975 in Zimbabwe. 

Africa and Kerala in the list

Lightening most occurs in Java and South Africa. Even the small Kerala is included in the list. Most treats belong to Kollam district while it’s low in Thrissur and Palakkad. 62% of such incidents occur in April, May, October and November.

Danger through chimney

Through open chimneys of kitchen danger can occur. Smoke inside chimneys catalyses electric transmission and lightening can easily land inside home through this point. There are possibilities of explosion as well.

Benjamin Franklin proved that lightening is electricity

In 1752, an American Benjamin Franklin proved that lightening is electricity. He made a kite from a piece of silk cloth and tied an iron key. He flew it while it was lightening. He saw sparking fire which helped him to prove the presence of electricity. Since he was flying the thread using a woolen thread, he didn’t get shock. That was the moment when humans identified lightening to be a form of electricity. To protect big buildings from lightening he invented a lightening rode.

When it’s lightening we need to take precautions

Though lightning is nature’s gift we should keep distance from it. So, we should be extra care while lightening and thunder occurs. Let me give you a few such precautions.

1. Keep distance from doors and windows.
2. Never use metallic instruments.
3. Never use land phone or mobile while it’s lightening
4. Never handle substances like kerosene or petrol
5. Avoid opening water taps and shower baths
6. Never lean on walls
7. Never stand below trees, particularly if they are high. So, if a sudden lightning occurs never take shelter under a tree.
8. Never stand in hills or barren lands. Even if you got trapped in such places during a lightning, less contact should be maintained with earth’s surface. Never lay down.
9. Never stand crowded. If someone gets a shock, it can be spread to everyone near him.
10. Keep distance from water, big buildings and iron fences.
11. If you are traveling in a car, stay inside. Its rubber tyres are shock absorbers. 

If someone gets a shock

If given first aid, that person can be saved. Give him artificial respiration and then take to the nearby hospital as early as possible. If it’s lightning, place both your feet together. It’s safer. Cattle get shock easily as their front legs are far away from their rear legs.

Nature’s tricks are really amazing. We can try to imitate many of its deeds to say, ‘we have achieved something’. But the truth is that, comparing to nature, we humans are nowhere! Nature is able to finish everything in a fraction of seconds. Yet it’s tolerating everything and protects us. That’s why it’s told ‘mother nature’.