Ultra-fast camera captures the moment several lightning rods strike to receive the electrical discharge of lightning during a thunderstorm: watch the video
Scientists from the National Institute for Space Research (INPE) have captured, with the help of an ultra-fast camera, the moment of the lightning discharge with details of its connection to several nearby lightning conductors. The unprecedented image prompted the work of researchers Marcelo Saba and Diego Rhamon to be published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters.
“The image was captured on a summer night, in São José dos Campos, when a negatively charged descending ray approached the ground at a speed of 370 kilometers per second,” Marcelo explained to Agência FAPESP — the researchers’ study was financed with funds from the foundation. It also explains how lightning rods work, producing upward positive discharges for connect with the lightning that fell .
“The final image before the connection was obtained 25 millionths of a second before the lightning strike on one of the buildings,” completes the scientist. To record the moment, the camera captured 40,000 images per second. The result can be seen in a slow motion video.
In addition to seeing how lightning rods behave, the work also shows the risk that lightning can pose if the protective devices they are not installed correctly.
At the time of the video, despite the more than 30 lightning rods in the region, the electric discharge was connected to none of them, but to a chimney on the roof of one of the buildings. “An installation error has left this area unprotected. And the impact of a 30,000 amp current has done impressive damage,” says Marcelo.
Source: Geophysics research letters Through: FAPESP agency
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