Lightning captured at 7,207 images per second

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Does it follow a fractal pattern there at the beginning, I can't tell.

Doesn't look like it but it could be the lighting limitation.
 
zerozero

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not sure, the caption is:

A downward lightning negative ground flash captured at 7,207 images per second. A negative stepped leader emerges from the cloud and connects with the ground forming a return stroke.

I googled "stepped leader" and this is from our friends at wikipedia:

As a thundercloud moves over the surface of the Earth, an electric charge equal to but opposite the charge of the base of the thundercloud is induced in the Earth below the cloud. The induced ground charge follows the movement of the cloud, remaining underneath it.

An initial bipolar discharge, or path of ionized air, starts from a negatively charged region of mixed water and ice in the thundercloud. Ionized channels of the discharge are known as leaders. The positive and negative charged leaders, generally a "stepped leader", proceed in opposite directions. The negatively-charged one proceeds downward in a number of quick jumps (steps). About 90% of the leaders exceed 45 m (148 ft) in length, with most in the order of 50 to 100 m (164 to 328 ft).[34]

As it continues to descend, the stepped leader may branch into a number of paths.[35] The progression of stepped leaders takes a comparatively long time (hundreds of milliseconds) to approach the ground. This initial phase involves a relatively small electric current (tens or hundreds of amperes), and the leader is almost invisible when compared with the subsequent lightning channel.

When a stepped leader approaches the ground, the presence of opposite charges on the ground enhances the strength of the electric field. The electric field is strongest on ground-connected objects whose tops are closest to the base of the thundercloud, such as trees and tall buildings. If the electric field is strong enough, a conductive discharge (called a positive streamer) can develop from these points. This was first theorized by Heinz Kasemir.[36][37]

As the field increases, the positive streamer may evolve into a hotter, higher current leader which eventually connects to the descending stepped leader from the cloud. It is also possible for many streamers to develop from many different objects simultaneously, with only one connecting with the leader and forming the main discharge path. Photographs have been taken on which non-connected streamers are clearly visible.[38]

Once a channel of ionized air is established between the cloud and ground this becomes a path of least resistance and allows for a much greater current to propagate from the Earth back up the leader into the cloud. This is the return stroke and it is the most luminous and noticeable part of the lightning discharge.
Click to expand...
 
zerozero

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I think it's kinda cool how a lot of natural phenomenon are just based on something we've consider tamed and industrialized like electricity

everthing from the sky lighting up with incredible flares like this to our cells communicating in our body.. just electric
 
AgentGrey

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zerozero said:
I think it's kinda cool how a lot of natural phenomenon are just based on something we've consider tamed and industrialized like electricity

everthing from the sky lighting up with incredible flares like this to our cells communicating in our body.. just electric
Click to expand...

Word to Tesla,
When are we gonna get that global power from Tesla towers :usure:
 
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