Hazards Associated With Thunderstorms; Lightning - INSIGHT STRIKE FINDER Pilot's Manual

STRIKE FINDER
DIGITAL WEATHER AVOIDANCE
Figure 36. Severe Thunderstorm
HAZARDS WITH THUNDERSTORMS
A thunderstorm contains every conceivable aerial hazard: lightning,
catastrophic turbulence, wind shear, severe icing, destructive hail and
tornadoes.

Lightning

Lightning is the visible electrical discharge produced by thunderstorms. The
convective flow of air currents circulating up and down create friction
between the opposing air currents. The friction causes electrical charges
within the thunderstorm to separate. Charge separation in the thunderstorm
polarizes a region with positive charges at the top, intermediate negative
charges within the center, and with positive charges at the base. Since
electrical opposites attract, an invisible shadow of negative charges track
along the ground beneath the thunderstorm.
PILOT'S GUIDE 43