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General Discussion => Science & Nature => Topic started by: sam on June 22, 2010, 04:06

Title: Where Lightning Strikes More Than Twice
Post by: sam on June 22, 2010, 04:06

Quote

Lightning is one of Mother Nature's double-edged swords; it is beautiful to watch as it lights up the sky, but it is dangerous when it hits the ground at a scorching 50,000 degrees F and brings with it a jolt of 100 million electric volts.

http://www.physorg.com/news196366436.html

Title: Re: Where Lightning Strikes More Than Twice
Post by: Clive on June 22, 2010, 07:34

Beautiful Sam.   8-)

Title: Re: Where Lightning Strikes More Than Twice
Post by: Rik on June 22, 2010, 10:36

If scary. :)

Title: Re: Where Lightning Strikes More Than Twice
Post by: Simon on June 22, 2010, 10:41

I love storms.  As long as I'm inside!

Title: Re: Where Lightning Strikes More Than Twice
Post by: Rik on June 22, 2010, 10:43

And the lightning is striking a mile or two away...

Title: Re: Where Lightning Strikes More Than Twice
Post by: Simon on June 22, 2010, 11:08

That helps.  :)

Title: Re: Where Lightning Strikes More Than Twice
Post by: Rik on June 22, 2010, 11:22

I've seen a chimney blown off the side of a house by a direct strike. It reminds you that nature is powerful.

Title: Re: Where Lightning Strikes More Than Twice
Post by: Simon on June 22, 2010, 12:13

I didn't actually witness it, but one of our local pubs was destroyed by a fire caused by a lightning strike.

Title: Re: Where Lightning Strikes More Than Twice
Post by: Rik on June 22, 2010, 12:19

It's scary stuff, like watching storms peel the roof off a building.

Title: Re: Where Lightning Strikes More Than Twice
Post by: Simon on June 22, 2010, 12:47

Indeed.   The 1987 hurricane hit us hard down here in the south east.  Astonishingly, I slept right through it, but the devastation witnessed the following morning was incredible.

Title: Re: Where Lightning Strikes More Than Twice
Post by: Rik on June 22, 2010, 17:22

Nature has a habit of reminding us who's in charge.

Title: Re: Where Lightning Strikes More Than Twice
Post by: Simon on June 22, 2010, 17:28

I was living in a flat six floors up at the time, and that was with shops and a car park below, so it was quite high.  On the night of the hurricane, I do remember briefly waking, and feeling the building move, but didn't wake fully enough to realise what was actually occurring.  The following morning, the whole town was cut off with fallen trees blocking all routes in and out, and there was a weird quietness about the place.  Scary stuff.

Title: Re: Where Lightning Strikes More Than Twice
Post by: Rik on June 22, 2010, 17:59

I know what you mean. We had a fence take off in the late 80s, it was unbelievable to watch. Then there was the earthquake...

Title: Re: Where Lightning Strikes More Than Twice
Post by: Simon on June 22, 2010, 19:39

Are you sure that wasn't a result of one of Sue's curries?  ;D

Title: Re: Where Lightning Strikes More Than Twice
Post by: Rik on June 23, 2010, 09:53

We didn't use to eat curry back then. :)

Title: Re: Where Lightning Strikes More Than Twice
Post by: Rodders on June 23, 2010, 22:05

In around 2001 I was watching a distant thunderstorm from my bedroom window, over the roof of the house directly opposite, when it was suddenly struck by lightning.  I'm told that I jumped backwards about six feet.  Never did use those underpants again.

Title: Re: Where Lightning Strikes More Than Twice
Post by: Simon on June 23, 2010, 22:13

I know, some of them do make you jump!  ;D

Title: Re: Where Lightning Strikes More Than Twice
Post by: Rodders on June 23, 2010, 22:18

I wasn't used to seeing roof tiles travel that quickly.

Title: Re: Where Lightning Strikes More Than Twice
Post by: Rik on June 24, 2010, 10:06

It's when being able to duck fast comes in really handy.

Title: Re: Where Lightning Strikes More Than Twice
Post by: Simon on June 24, 2010, 12:35

Glad there were no typos there.  ;)

Title: Re: Where Lightning Strikes More Than Twice
Post by: sam on June 24, 2010, 13:44

yeah, Rik isn't you on a phone....  :P

Title: Re: Where Lightning Strikes More Than Twice
Post by: Simon on June 24, 2010, 14:09

:wahh:

Title: Re: Where Lightning Strikes More Than Twice
Post by: Rik on June 24, 2010, 14:53

 :laugh: