Is lighting ground to sky or from sky to ground?

Answer 1

There is much confusion over the "up" or "down" motion of lightning bolts, but in most cases it is initiated by the flow of negative ions in clouds to a positively charged point at another point (cloud or ground). What is referred to as "lightning" is a luminous path of superheated air caused by repeated current flows from the ground and the air. In certain cloud types, the interaction of ice and water (and possibly the Earth's magnetic field) creates a surplus of negatively charged particles, usually near the bottom of the cloud. Where the ground and objects below have accumulated positive charges, an electric discharge can occur. This is preceded by "step leaders" moving down from the clouds and "positive leaders" moving up from the ground. Where these streams come in contact, the negative ions flow to the ground, followed by a return flow of positive ions. This can occur multiple times in the same lightning strike.

Answer 2

Lightning typically travels from the sky to the ground. When a thundercloud becomes electrically charged, the negative charges at the base of the cloud repel negative charges on the ground, creating a channel for the lightning to follow from the cloud to the ground.

Answer 3

From the ground up is usually how it works but it learns out there are different types of lighting like ground lighting that looks like a ball.

Answer 4

ground ?