Original poster: Bert Hickman <bert.hickman@xxxxxxxxxx>
This monster bolt was almost certainly positive lightning from the top of
a nearby storm. These lightning strikes are especially nasty not only
because they may pack 10X the current, and the heavier current flows for
much longer than regular [negative] lightning, but they have been known to
propagate over 10 miles _horizontally_ from a storm! They are the fabled
"bolt from the blue" - positive lightning has been known to come from a
storm on the other side of small mountains. The positive lightning goes
OVER the mountains where it can strike a hapless individual sunning
themselves on a beach on the other side of the mountains.
The text that goes with this picture (from the Australian amateur
lightning photographer who took it) is on this page:
http://205.243.100.155/frames/longarc.htm#Pos-Lightning1
Best regards,
Bert
--
---------------------------------------------------------------------
We specialize in UNIQUE items! Coins shrunk by huge magnetic fields,
Lichtenberg Figures ("Captured Lightning" in acrylic), & Out-of-Print
technical Books. Stoneridge Engineering - http://www.teslamania.com
---------------------------------------------------------------------