Saw my first positive lightning bolt today!

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TampaSteve
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Saw my first positive lightning bolt today!

#1 Postby TampaSteve » Sat Jul 14, 2007 10:02 pm

My wife and I were going out to get lunch today around 2 pm, and the skies overhead were clear, but we saw a thundercloud off to the East. It didn't seem to be doing much at first, then suddenly I saw this huge bolt of lightning jump between the top of the cloud and the ground, striking a point on the ground well away from the cloud. I have no doubt in my mind that it was positive lightning...the first time I had seen it live. I have seen plenty of lightning before, even lighthing shooting UP from the top of a thundercloud, but never a clearly defined bolt between the top of the cloud and the ground.

Yaaay...I can cross one more weather phenomenon off my list... :ggreen:
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Re: Saw my first positive lightning bolt today!

#2 Postby JonathanBelles » Sat Jul 14, 2007 10:15 pm

What is the difference between positive and negative lightning appearance?
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Re: Saw my first positive lightning bolt today!

#3 Postby TampaSteve » Sun Jul 15, 2007 7:33 am

fact789 wrote:What is the difference between positive and negative lightning appearance?


Positive lightning jumps between the top of the thundercloud (anvil) and the ground some distance away from the thundercloud, as opposed to negative lightning, which jumps between the base of the thundercloud and the ground underneath the thundercloud. Other than the origination point and the fact that it is far more powerful, positive lightning looks like negative lightning, albeit somewhat brighter because of the increased power.
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Re: Saw my first positive lightning bolt today!

#4 Postby Hurricaneman » Sun Jul 15, 2007 9:35 am

TampaSteve wrote:
fact789 wrote:What is the difference between positive and negative lightning appearance?


Positive lightning jumps between the top of the thundercloud (anvil) and the ground some distance away from the thundercloud, as opposed to negative lightning, which jumps between the base of the thundercloud and the ground underneath the thundercloud. Other than the origination point and the fact that it is far more powerful, positive lightning looks like negative lightning, albeit somewhat brighter because of the increased power.


This is the way that the phenomenom known as bolt from the blue happens I believe
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Re: Saw my first positive lightning bolt today!

#5 Postby TampaSteve » Sun Jul 15, 2007 10:35 am

Hurricaneman wrote:
TampaSteve wrote:
fact789 wrote:What is the difference between positive and negative lightning appearance?


Positive lightning jumps between the top of the thundercloud (anvil) and the ground some distance away from the thundercloud, as opposed to negative lightning, which jumps between the base of the thundercloud and the ground underneath the thundercloud. Other than the origination point and the fact that it is far more powerful, positive lightning looks like negative lightning, albeit somewhat brighter because of the increased power.


This is the way that the phenomenom known as bolt from the blue happens I believe


Correct.
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Re: Saw my first positive lightning bolt today!

#6 Postby Extremeweatherguy » Sun Jul 15, 2007 10:50 am

Image
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Re: Saw my first positive lightning bolt today!

#7 Postby TampaSteve » Sun Jul 15, 2007 4:52 pm

Extremeweatherguy wrote:Image


8-)
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Re: Saw my first positive lightning bolt today!

#8 Postby Bunkertor » Sun Jul 15, 2007 5:26 pm

TampaSteve wrote:
fact789 wrote:What is the difference between positive and negative lightning appearance?


Positive lightning jumps between the top of the thundercloud (anvil) and the ground some distance away from the thundercloud, as opposed to negative lightning, which jumps between the base of the thundercloud and the ground underneath the thundercloud. Other than the origination point and the fact that it is far more powerful, positive lightning looks like negative lightning, albeit somewhat brighter because of the increased power.


And it´s much louder - even from the distance.
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Re: Saw my first positive lightning bolt today!

#9 Postby Stephanie » Sun Jul 15, 2007 8:27 pm

I never heard of that term before. It's great to see a photo of it. :D
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Re: Saw my first positive lightning bolt today!

#10 Postby Category 5 » Wed Jul 18, 2007 10:29 am

Beautiful picture.
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