It goes either way, with (I think) up-down predominating. Lots of good info online about this.
A gigantic electrical spark in the Earth's atmosphere is known as lightning. It occurs when electrical charges build up in the atmosphere and are discharged in the form of a sudden and bright flash of light. Lightning can be dangerous and cause fires, injuries, and damage to buildings.
Lightning itself is a natural phenomenon caused by the buildup of electrical charges in Earth's atmosphere. While it can be dangerous and cause wildfires or damage to property, it is not classified as a natural disaster on its own. However, when paired with other elements like dry conditions, lightning can contribute to natural disasters like wildfires.
Lightning does not directly cause earthquakes. Earthquakes are typically caused by the movement of tectonic plates or volcanic activity. Lightning is a discharge of atmospheric electricity within a thunderstorm that does not have an impact on the Earth's crust to cause earthquakes.
A jolt of lightning is a sudden, intense burst of electrical energy generated by a thunderstorm. It is typically visible as a bright flash in the sky and can be accompanied by a loud thunderclap. Lightning strikes can be dangerous and cause damage to structures and harm to living beings.
When lightning strikes the Earth, it occurs to discharge the built-up electrical energy in the atmosphere. It can cause damage by starting fires, damaging structures, injuring living beings, or even triggering power outages due to the sudden surge of electricity. Lightning can also lead to the formation of fulgurites, which are natural hollow glass tubes formed in sand or soil when lightning strikes.
No. Lightning is caused by electrical charges travelling from clouds to the earth, earth to clouds or cloud to cloud. Thunder is caused by lightning.
When lightning strikes a lightning rod, the rod provides a path of least resistance for the electricity to travel safely to the ground. The lightning is then conducted harmlessly into the earth, minimizing the risk of damage to nearby structures.
If lightning strikes the ground during a thunderstorm, it can cause damage by creating a powerful electrical discharge. This can lead to fires, destruction of property, or injuries to people or animals nearby. It's important to take safety precautions during thunderstorms to reduce the risk of damage from lightning strikes.
The planet Earth or the earth (as soil) doesn't suffer from rusting.
Large bolts of electricity coming from clouds. In some cases the bolt comes from the earth up to the cloud.
Lightning rods are designed to provide a path for lightning to strike the earth safely by conducting the electrical current from the cloud to the ground. By offering a low-resistance path, they help protect buildings and structures from damage caused by lightning strikes.
No, cosmic rays do not cause lightning. Lightning is typically caused by the buildup of charge within a thundercloud, leading to a discharge of electricity to the ground. Cosmic rays are high-energy particles from space that can interact with Earth's atmosphere but do not directly cause lightning.