An occasional lightning show is great , but imagine seeing one most nights . Residents who hold up near Venezuela’sLago de Maracaibo , orLake Maracaibo , do n’t have to marvel about that scenario — they have lightning ramp for an norm of 260 Nox a class . For an approximation of what that look like , check out the video above fromThe Weather Channel .
In 2016 , Lake Maracaibo formally became the major planet ’s lightning capital afterresearchersconducted a major study of the world ’s lightning hot spot . The experts remark the lake ’s climate after pull in years of data point from NASA’sLightning Imaging Sensoron its Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission satellite . Research shows that Lake Maracaibo ’s lightning storms are most active in September and October when it rain .
The lake sees an norm of about233 flashesper hearty kilometer yearly , outgo Africa ’s Congo Basin , the world ’s former lightning hotspot . More specifically , the activity occurs where Lake Maracaibo meets the mouthpiece of the Catatumbo River .
To translate this phenomenon , prove how lightning works is of import . Although some disagreements live on how clouds are electrified , scientistsconcur that lightning happens when a cloud ’s cocksure and minus charges become separated and when storms bring forth ice rink . Wind upheaval , which unremarkably pass off during electric storm , makes it likely for charges to separate . When that fall out , negatively charged particle collect near the bottom of the cloud while positive ones cumulate near the top , causing electric currents .
So why does lightning form more oft over Lake Maracaibo ? The answer most likely lies in the area’slandscape and wind current . deal skirt the lake except to the north . This topography reserve the ardent waters from the Caribbean Sea to enter the lake . The climate becomes humid as the water evaporate under the sun ’s ray . Once the sun set , cold wind current from the beleaguer batch meet the affectionate air , which produces cumulonimbus swarm . The lightning show takes center point when humid gentle wind droplet touch ice crystal from the cold air .
Somereportthat the lightning is bright enough to read a newspaper at Nox . Hopefully , the locals can get some shuteye .
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