Upwards lightning is very rare natural phenomenon, with researchers estimating that less than 1% of lightning travels in an ‘upwards’ direction. This particular event was captured in Tropical Depression Dorian in Florida during August 2013.And, interestingly, of the three types of this phenomenon known to exist, all three were spotted in this one thunder cloud. According to Dr Ningyu Liu, upward electrical discharges transfer a large amount of electric charge into the upper atmosphere. Continue reading for the video and more information.
“This can potentially affect cloud formation and weather by modifying the global atmospheric electrical circuit, as well as the chemistry of the atmosphere. The global atmospheric electrical circuit is the continuous movement of electrical current between the ionosphere and Earth’s surface, which is powered by thunderstorms. These discharges can also affect radio signals for long-range communication,” says The Daily Mail.
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