Has anyone ever seen red lightning?  Where?  And what causes the color to be red?
404054
Yes. Anywhere that there is lightning there is a possibillity for red lighting. Red lightning is caused by, lighting traveling from cloud to cloud. The clouds then distort the color.
1183282
NO.\n\nIt is only an effect of a cloud being illuminated by a distant lightning flash.
757146
Lightning is one of the oldest observed natural phenomena on earth. At the same time, it also is one of the least understood. While lightning is simply a gigantic spark of static electricity (the same kind of electricity that sometimes shocks you when you touch a doorknob), scientists do not have a complete grasp on how it works, or how it interacts with solar flares impacting the upper atmosphere or the earth's electromagnetic field.\nLightning has been seen in volcanic eruptions, extremely intense forest fires, surface nuclear detonations, heavy snowstorms, and in large hurricanes. However, it is most often seen in thunderstorms.At any given moment, there can be as many as 2,000 thunderstorms occurring across the globe. This translates to more than 14.5 MILLION storms each year. NASA satellite research indicated these storms produce lightning flashes about 40 times a second worldwide.This is a change from the commonly accepted value of 100 flashes per second which was an estimate from 1925. Whether it is 40, 100, or somewhere in between, we live on an electrified planet.\n\nThe Sound of Thunder\nRegardless of whether lightning is positive or negative, thunder is produced the same way. Thunder is the acoustic shock wave resulting from the extreme heat generated by a lightning flash. Lightning can be as hot as 54,000°F (30,000°C), a temperature that is five times the surface of the sun! When lightning occurs, it heats the air surrounding its channel to that same incredible temperature in a fraction of a second.\n\nLike all gases, when air molecules are heated, they expand. The faster they are heated, the faster their rate of expansion. But when air is heated to 54,000°F in a fraction of a second, a phenomenon known as "explosive expansion" occurs. This is where air expands so rapidly that it compresses the air in front of it, forming a shock wave similar to a sonic boom. Exploding fireworks produce a similar result.\n\nWhat is the difference between a thundershower and a thunderstorm?  \nTechnically, there is none. In general, the term "thundershower" tends to denote a fairly weak storm with light to moderate rainfall and low levels of lightning activity. However, there are no defined parameters that distinguish between a thundershower and a thunderstorm. In fact, in order to avoid confusion, we in the National Weather Service do not use the term "thundershower". If a shower is strong enough to produce lightning, even just one single bolt, it's called a thunderstorm.\n\nTo Learn More about Lightning and Thunder go to \nhttp://www.srh.weather.gov/jetstream/lightning/lightning_intro.htm\n\nLIGHTNING SAFETY A MUST READ\nLightning is the MOST UNDERRATED weather hazard. On average, only floods kill more people. Lightning makes every single thunderstorm a potential killer, whether the storm produces one single bolt or ten thousand bolts.\n\nIn the United States, lightning routinely kills more people each year than tornadoes and hurricanes COMBINED. Tornadoes, hail, and wind gusts get the most attention, but only lightning can strike outside the storm itself. Lightning is the first thunderstorm hazard to arrive and the last to leave.\n\nLightning is one of the most capricious and unpredictable characteristics of a thunderstorm. Because of this, no one can guarantee an individual or group absolute protection from lightning. However, knowing and following proven lightning safety guidelines can greatly reduce the risk of injury or death. Remember, YOU are ultimately responsible for your personal safety, and should take appropriate action when threatened by lightning.\n\nWhile no place is 100% safe from lightning, some places are much safer than others.\nWhere to Go Where NOT to Go \nThe safest location during a thunderstorm is inside a large enclosed structure with plumbing and electrical wiring. These include shopping centers, schools, office buildings, and private residences.\n\nIf lightning st
439061
Lightning is electricity. When the clouds build up too much electrons and the voltage between the cloud and the ground is great enough to cause air to break down and conduct, you get lighting. Its like a spark.
403345
Thunder is caused by lightning. The sound is made as the air around the lightning bolt rapidly heats and cools. The air around a lightning strike is heated to 50,000 degrees Fahrenheit (27,500 C), as the air cools it causes a shock wave to occur known as thunder. The closer the lightning is, the louder the clap of thunder will be. You can think of thunder as nature's way of warning you to take cover to avoid being struck by lightning.
242740
I've heard that the sky turns a type of dirty greenish greyish colour before a severe hailstorm, or a tornado.  But I'd like to think that the sky would do that because of the types of clouds, and the absorption and reflection of light.  I've never seen it myself to say for sure. \n\nI've also been told that there are green flashes that apprear on the sea (but the sea level has to be right) around sunset.  I've never seen one of those either. Apparently, it's one of those must-see things.\n\nAnd then again, another place where greens exist is in the northern lights (Aurora Borealis)...  There are greens and they're gorgeous.  Now I've witnessed that, and it's simply GORGEOUS!!\n\nlike you said, there's always the good old rainbow!  I've seen that too :p\n\ncheers!!
768063
North western sky.? In the USA.? Me and my work mate saw two bright lights in the western sky at 8pm off the coast of western australia. About 2 hours ago. They looked like fireballs and went horizontally then went out of sight. It lasted for about 20 seconds.
681841
Same principle as neon lighting.  With a neon light you have a gas with current passing through it causing it to emit off a light.  In this case it sounds like a concentration of whatever the specific gas happened to be in the air at the lightning strike, and what you saw was the gas emitting it's light.  Anyone happen to know what gas gives off green light in neon lights?
224271
Hello,\nLightening is caused due to the build up of electrons in the upper layers of the clouds during a storm. These electrons are attracted towards the positive potential of the earth, but the air gives a stiff resistance and does not allow the electricity to pass through. But when a huge potential has been accumulated, the electricity forces its way through the air molecules. This causes a lot of friction and hence releases heat energy. A tremendous amount of heat energy. This causes the air molecules to vibrate and this produces the cracking sound known as thunder. Thunder rattles the windows if it is loud enough. Sound is just the air particles vibrating and when the vibrating air molecules hit the window, they cause it to rattle. Lightning usually strikes the highest point and the most positively charged area. This is becuz lightning looks for the easiest way out of air. A high place means it has to travel less distance...
270266
Lightning can be any color. It is reflected off things that are near it, so it could be any color.
741303
It's a lightning bolt, that when you look at your own avtar, it constantly flashes, making it look like there really is lightning. But when you see them as someone elses, the lightning freezes, and it just looks like "cracks" in the picture.
191622
Lightning rapidly heats the air around it to over 50,000 degrees F in only a few millionths of a second.  This causes the air to rapidly expand, forming a shock wave that dissipates into a sound wave after 30 feet creating the sound of thunder.
38421
because the blue lights can be seen in the fog, or heavy rain   as the red can be seen at greater distances and red is the sign of there is trouble here please help!   hope this helps    love to hear what other officers were told!   lol.....
341077
I believe they are refering to sheet lightning that never touches the ground. In the tropics it can be extremely brilliant lighting up the sky like a neon glow.
211510
This site might help "see" what is going on and why.  Interesting question by the way.  I saw my first one last summer and the colors were so bright.  It was amazing!  Had everyone out in the parking lot of the strip mall checking it out.\n\n\nhttp://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/Hbase/atmos/rbowpri.html\n\nhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rainbow
17071
It's called "thunder snow" & it's rare, since cold weather usually doesn't have the right conditions for cumulonimbus clouds to form. However if the conditions are right (warmer air & moisture) thunderstorms can form in the winter as well.\n\nIt's pretty wild, I've seen it a couple times in the northeast. It's especially amazing at night, the lightning creates a giant strobe effect.
480333
natural LIGHTING comes from the sun,\notherwise, usually from an electric light bulb\n\nHowever, LIGHTNING, is a dual attraction between the sky and the ground, but physically speaking the negative charge in the sky is seeking out a positive charge on the ground, the LIGHTNING comes FROM THE SKY.\nHowever, you may not often see this and since there is a return of the lightning energy back up to the sky, (to balance the energy) so if you look after the sound of thunder you are seeing the return.