Longest single Lightning flash of 829 km in USA (2017) extending eastern Texas to near Kansas City sets new record.
About Lightning
- Occurrence: It is a giant spark of electricity that occurs when opposite charges’ build up becomes very large between the clouds or between cloud and ground.
- This built up of charge breaks the insulating property of air causing lightning.
- Impact: Lightning causes Thunder as it rapidly heats the air around it, causing its expansion producing a loud sound.
- Storm accompanied by lightning and thunder is thunderstorm.
- Causes: Warming (1 degree rise in temperature, causes rise in lightning from 7% to 18% in India), Pollution (rise in aerosol levels), urbanisation, etc.
- Trends in India: 57% rise in incidents from 2019- 2024 (India Meteorological Department (IMD) and Climate Resilient Observation- Systems Promotion Council (CROPC))
- Key Hazards: Electric fires/explosions (breakdown of insulation and short circuits) in buildings, Bursting of trees due to moisture evaporation; loss of lives, etc.
Measures taken by India
- NDMA (National Disaster Management Authority)
- Two Pronged Approach: Scientific solutions and implementation among community and Climate action to reduce the occurrence.
- Guidelines for preparation of Action Plan on prevention and Management against Lightning and Thunderstorms (2019).
- Others: Protocol for dissemination of Lightning Early Warning, Mobile application SACHET, etc.
- IMD: Issues lightning forecasts in three modes: Lightning outlook from 5 days to 24 hours, Nowcast, Damini Mobile app.
- Others: Three Lightning detection networks, Network of Doppler Weather Radars (DWRs), etc.