Understanding the Physics of Giant Electrical Discharges Above Thunderstorms

Cloud top discharges are the largest electrical discharges on planet earth and produce many spectacular colors, including purple, blue, and red. These discharges span up to 50 miles long and can directly transfer electric charge to outer space, yet the scientific community still doesn’t understand how they do this. With support from the National Science Foundation, Levi’s research into cloud top discharges dives deep into the physics to learn scientifically how these discharges develop during sever weather and how they interact with the atmosphere and impact the environment. For example, these discharges produce nitric oxide (NOx), which affects the amount of ozone in the stratosphere, which in turn affects the warming and cooling of the planet. 

Levi’s research will seek to capture electrical discharges above the clouds using a high-speed imaging system to learn more about their physics and how thunderstorms produce such massive discharges. The goal is to gain a better understanding as to why some storms produce cloud top electrical discharges while others do not. This will also lead to a better understanding about the physical properties of these type of discharges such as their conductivity and energy. The high-speed imaging system that Levi and his team will use will be the first of its kind, and will be able to measure up to four simultaneously electromagnetic wavelengths at high speeds.