Re: pig lightning strike - a Positive Lightning Bolt?

["Tesla list" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>]

Original poster: "Bert Hickman by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>" <bert.hickman-at-aquila-dot-net>

Justin and all,

Chances are, the poor pig got a direct hit by a giant high current bolt of
POSITIVE lightning, which first took out the arrestor, then the pig! Unlike
more common bolts of negative Cloud to Ground (CG) lightning from the base
of a thunderstorm, a positive giant bolt comes from much higher, in the
updraft region of the cloud - a region of strong positive charge. These
bolts are really nasty, since they not only pack much greater current (up
to several hundred kiloamperes), but the decaying "tail" of the current
also flows for a much longer time, making it much "hotter". Positive 
lightning currents have been known to persist for as long as 100 
milliseconds! And, one of these can easily hit well over 10 miles away from 
the base of the storm! 

It's also positive lighting that starts many wildfires, and if it hits YOU, 
it usually kills you. Period. This form of lightning often hits well
outside of the region getting rained upon, and may sometimes hit where 
there's not even any sound of thunder from the main storm! Sometimes 
called a "bolt from the blue", it can travel outward from the cloud top, 
traveling horizontally, then diagonally downward, striking objects that 
are under blue sky! It's exceptionally dangerous in mountainous regions, 
since a storm can be on the other side of a mountain and not observable 
until lighting strikes on the sunny side - seemingly coming out of the
blue! 

For one of the most awesome "bolt from the blue" picture ever taken, check
out the following image. In
this shot, the lightning originated near the anvil top of the thunderstorm
and propagated downwards to the ground. Check it out at:
http://www.aquila-dot-net/bert.hickman/photos/posflasha.jpg 

The positive bolt pictured hit at least 5 or more miles away from the base
of the storm. Looking at this, it's obvious that this is no ordinary
lightning
bolt!

Justin, feel fortunate to have seen one of these brutes up close - but just
not
too closely... :^)

-- Bert --
-- 
Bert Hickman
Stoneridge Engineering
Email:    bert.hickman-at-aquila-dot-net
Web Site: http://www.teslamania-dot-com

Tesla list wrote:
> 
> Original poster: "by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>"
<Pyrotrons-at-aol-dot-com>
> 
> Hi Everyone.
> 
> These kinds of things are interesting to most coilers I know, thought I'd
> mention it.
> 
> Last night, I watched a storm system move by from NW to SE. There was the
> typical gust front (cold wind, straight-line winds, shelf cloud), then super
> heavy rain, then the severe part of the storm.
> 
> The lightning had mostly past, but I was looking down the street, directly at
> the place where the lightning struck. I had just enough time to put my hands
> over my ears and turn around. It was a massive, massive strike. Not your
> typical bolt.....it was very powerful. I've seen close lightning before, this
> one was different.
> 
> I immediately looked up after the main clap of thunder hit, and there was a
> fairly massive, rolling, mushroom shaped ball of fire rising where the arc
> hit. I drove to the end of the street, and found the pig burning brightly on
> it's perch. Hot oil pouring everywhere. The top was completely blown off, and
> the main metal cylinder was very bent out of shape.
> 
> So I drove down to Reliant Energy's place up the road, and they followed me
> to the location. They had power back up on my street within 20 minutes. Not
> bad!
> 
> My main point is this: No matter how over-designed a pole transformer or
> commercial power product may be, nothing will survive a direct hit from those
> giant natural capacitors. So much power. As a tesla coiler seeking those
> illusive big arcs, I was awestruck for several moments after it happened.
> 
> Take care,
> 
> Justin Hays
> KC5PNP
> Email: pyrotrons-at-aol-dot-com
> Webpage: www.hvguy-dot-com

-- 
Bert Hickman
Stoneridge Engineering
Email:    bert.hickman-at-aquila-dot-net
Web Site: http://www.teslamania-dot-com