Weather Watchers

AllaN01Bear

(23,349 posts) Sun Jul 30, 2023, 03:17 PM Jul 2023

dear du weather people .

i have been watching a lot of lighting storm videos lately. i know that there are several kinds of lighting including upward (positive ) and downward ( negative ) lighting. as in all electrical circuts , is there a return path. i was watching a video where a lighting scientist was talking about lightning to cccp students and they mentioned a return path. a puzzzle ment for me . thanks .

4 replies

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dear du weather people . (Original Post) AllaN01Bear Jul 2023 OP

The build-up of the charge was the other (return part) of the circuit. texasfiddler Jul 2023 #1

thanks for ur information. AllaN01Bear Jul 2023 #2

I am not a weather professional. texasfiddler Jul 2023 #3

i have studied electricity for years and wondered about that. i am also ham and cb er AllaN01Bear Jul 2023 #4

texasfiddler

(2,193 posts)

1. The build-up of the charge was the other (return part) of the circuit.

Reply to AllaN01Bear (Original post)

Sun Jul 30, 2023, 03:42 PM

Jul 2023

The discharge completes the other half. It just takes time.

AllaN01Bear

(23,349 posts)

2. thanks for ur information.

Reply to texasfiddler (Reply #1)

Sun Jul 30, 2023, 04:20 PM

Jul 2023

texasfiddler

(2,193 posts)

3. I am not a weather professional.

Reply to AllaN01Bear (Reply #2)

Sun Jul 30, 2023, 04:36 PM

Jul 2023

I am an electrical engineer and I install lightning protection systems per NFPA 780. A lot of terms get used like leader step, streamer, and return stroke. It all basically describes the process of development of an electric field and potential difference between clouds and cloud/ground, ionization of air, and discharge. I compare the complete circuit like the charging of a capacitor over time (evaporation, storm cloud formation). I see the leader step like a screwdriver placed across the capacitor (ionization/dielectric breakdown of air leader step) and the return stroke as the current discharge through the screw driver.

AllaN01Bear

(23,349 posts)

4. i have studied electricity for years and wondered about that. i am also ham and cb er

Reply to texasfiddler (Reply #3)

Sun Jul 30, 2023, 04:50 PM

Jul 2023

and just ate up ham theory. be safe out there please . finger of former electrical/ electronic experimenter . dont take lightly the lightings . one thing that throuout my studies that has stuck in my head is a saying by tesla, that the earth is a giant capaciter. have a grand day

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