![]() ![]() The stepped leader can branch out in many directions. The stepped leader continues towards the ground in a series of steps that are each about 50 to 100 metres in length. The image below shows positive charges as red plus symbols and negative charges as blue minus symbols.Ī cloud-to-ground lightning strike starts as a channel of negative charges called a stepped leader makes its path towards the ground. The positive charges tend to concentrate on tall objects, like trees, poles and buildings. This region of positive charges travels underneath the cloud, almost like a shadow. At the same time, positive charges start to build underneath the storm. Since similar-charged objects repel each other and opposite-charged objects attract each other, negative charges begin to spread out near the base of the cloud. This allows electric fields to form and grow between the cloud and the ground and within the cloud itself - all necessary conditions for lightning to occur. Negative charges gather near the base of the cloud, while positive charges build in the top of the cloud. The turbulent wind environment of a thunderstorm with its updrafts and downdrafts is an ideal environment to separate electric charges. Scientists also agree that a developing storm must produce ice for it to form lightning. ![]() However, scientists agree that positive and negative charges must separate within a cloud for lightning to take place. There is still some debate in the scientific community about how the electrification of clouds occurs. ![]()
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