Types of Strikes and Types of Lightning

  • Cloud to ground - Discussed previously

Cloud-to-ground lightning.
Photo courtesy NOAA Photo Library, NOAA Central Library; OAR/ERL/National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL)
Cloud-to-ground lightning

  • Ground to cloud - The same as above with the exception that usually a tall, earth-bound object initiates the strike to the cloud

    Ground-to-cloud lightning.
    Photo courtesy NASA
    Ground-to-cloud lightning

  • Cloud to cloud - Also the same mechanics as discussed above except the strike travels from one cloud to another

Cloud-to-cloud lightning
Photo courtesy NOAA Photo Library, NOAA Central Library; OAR/ERL/National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL)
Cloud-to-cloud lightning

Types of Lightning

  • Normal lightning - Discussed previously
  • Sheet lightning - Normal lightning that is reflected in the clouds
  • Heat lightning - Normal lightning near the horizon that is reflected by high clouds
  • Ball lightning - A phenomenon where lightning forms a slow, moving ball that can burn objects in its path before exploding or burning out
  • Red sprite - A red burst reported to occur above storm clouds and reaching a few miles in length (toward the stratosphere)
  • Blue jet - A blue, cone-shaped burst that occurs above the center of a storm cloud and moves upward (toward the stratosphere) at a high rate of speed

In the next section, we'll learn about the purpose of lightning rods.