Thunderstorm & Lightning — Part 2
February 27, 2026
8:00 PM (UTC+1)
Live on FreeAstroScience
100% Free
What Happened in Part 1?
To fully grasp the advanced mechanics of lightning, a solid foundation is essential. In the first live session, we explored how warm, moist air rises and cools to create a circuit known as a convection cell. When this atmospheric process scales up with massive amounts of moisture, a thunderstorm is born. The previous session also successfully broke down the basic production of lightning and the extraordinary effects these powerful storms have on the Earth's surface.
Why Part 2 Matters
While describing a storm using visual, verbal, and written cues—like the sharp smell of ozone, the rumble, and the flash—is captivating, uncovering the underlying physics is truly thrilling. Lightning serves as a natural laboratory for atmospheric chemistry, electromagnetism, and plasma physics. Driven by the philosophy that "the sleep of reason breeds monsters," FreeAstroScience seeks to explain these complex realities in clear, everyday language.
What Will You Learn This Time?
Prepare to explore phenomena hotter than the surface of the Sun. Educator Miracle Chibuzzor Marcel will guide attendees through:
- The step-by-step mechanics of a lightning strike, from the initial stepped leader to the brilliant return stroke.
- Why thunder sounds the way it does and the significance of the delay between the flash and the rumble.
- The various types of lightning, including intra-cloud, cloud-to-ground, and elusive sprites and jets that dance above storm tops.
- Real-world impacts and safety protocols regarding how lightning interacts with the ground, structures, and humans.
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