In all effect there is little evidence that lightning striking a body of water will create a splash. This is due to there having being very little research on this topic as lightning doesn't often strike over bodies of water mainly due to the fact that bodies of water are usually cooler than land during the warmer summer months that thunderstorms are prevalent. It is for this reason thunderstorms are less likely to develop over water than over land. Another reason why there is little research on water and lightning is that lightning tends to strike the highest point and water is generally the lowest point around. Think of it this way. If you are in a boat conducting lightning research it will be the boat that gets hit and not the water.
Actually, lightning does not travel from the clouds to the ground as many people speculate. It actually is shot off from both sources (the ground and sky) and meet in the middle. Therefore, lightning would not nessecarily make a splash in the water. It might heat it up to boiling point and flash boil it, but there would be no splash. It is just like static electricity. There is no sign of a cut on your finger. Trust me, I study meterological science. :)
I would think, since the resulting thunder is an explosion caused by the rapidly expanding gasses, that there would be some splash, minute perhaps. So not the lightning itself, but the thunder maybe.
When the static discharge travels from the surface to the charged air, the point where it exits is superheated to many hundred degrees F. when this happens the water flash boils and it explodes, which looks like something just "hit" the surface with an object. In many years of sailing i have seen this only twice from a distance when the thunderstorm was over the open ocean. As an edit to the first answer, thunderstorms do form over bodies of water quite often. all you need for a thunderstorm is MIL. Moisture, Instability, Lift. lets see what we have over a body of water that has a mean temp of 70F. Moisture (check) Instability (check) sun heating the surface of the ocean creates warm water vapor) Lift (check) rising water vapor is its own lift mechanism.
Witness
Last night (20/11/08) I stood on a balcony overlooking a beach in Queensland, Australia, approx 50m from shore line, during a massive lightning and thunderstorm. As we were watching the show a bolt hit the water about 10 metres from the edge (60m from us). I can tell you, as can the other 30 people there who saw it that as well as a deafening 'crack' the water at impact exploded (splash) in what appeared to be a shower of light and sparks ... needless to say, the only thing that moved faster than the lightning bolt was the exodus from the balcony. So in direct answer to your question ... yes.
The safest distance from lightning while swimming is in your house. If you hear thunder it is possible taht lightning could strike you. If you are swimming and you hear thunder the best thing to do is to go inside.
It is not safe to be in the water during a thunderstorm with lightning. Water is a good conductor of electricity, increasing the risk of being struck by lightning. It is best to seek shelter on land when there is lightning in the area.
Yes, lightning can hit bats while they are flying. However, bats often seek shelter during storms, so they are less likely to be struck by lightning compared to other animals.
Most people are struck by lightning in open areas such as fields, golf courses, and parks, where they are the tallest objects in the vicinity. Additionally, swimming pools and open water are also high-risk areas for lightning strikes.
Having a tongue piercing does not make you more likely to get hit by lightning. Lightning strikes are random and not influenced by piercings or metal objects in the body. It is always important to take standard safety precautions during a storm to avoid being struck by lightning.
Yes,lightning does hit sea water
yes because it is a type of conductor
Yes planes are frequently hit by lightning.
Yes, lightning can hit the ocean. When a thunderstorm occurs over the ocean, lightning can strike the water just as it would strike land. The ocean's vast surface area makes it a common target for lightning strikes.
When a person gets hit by lightning, they are struck by the lightning bolt itself rather than the heat or electricity radiating from it. The current typically enters the body at the point where the lightning makes contact, such as the head or shoulders, and travels through the body to the ground.
It is when to lightning thingys are the same and hit the ground at the same time.
because lightning attracts to wood
Water is not inherently stronger than lightning; their strength and power depend on the context. Water can conduct electricity, so if lightning were to strike a body of water, it could potentially cause harm. But in terms of raw destructive power, lightning is typically more dangerous than water.
do lightning bugs drink water
the hide.
No!
Of course.