Title: Research Uncovers Factors Impacting Formation of Superbolts, Opening Path to Understanding Climate Change Effects
Subtitle: Findings reveal the correlation between storm clouds’ charging zones and the occurrence of superbolts, enabling anticipation of climate change impacts.
Date: [current date]
A groundbreaking study has uncovered the factors influencing the formation of superbolts, highly potent lightning strikes that can be 1,000 times stronger than regular lightning. The research, conducted by Avichay Efraim, a physicist at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, sheds new light on why certain regions experience a higher prevalence of superbolts and provides valuable insights for predicting the effects of climate change on these extraordinary natural phenomena.
According to the study published in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres, the likelihood of superbolts striking corresponds to the proximity of a storm cloud’s electrical charging zone to land or the ocean’s surface. These conditions create “hotspots” over particular oceans and tall mountains.
Although superbolts account for less than 1% of total lightning strikes, they possess an immense destructive power. In comparison to the average lightning strike, which registers approximately 300 million volts, superbolts can reach a remarkable 1,000 times that strength, resulting in substantial damage to infrastructure and ships.
Efraim expressed his fascination with superbolts, stating, “Superbolts, even though they’re only a very, very tiny percentage of all lightning, they’re a magnificent phenomenon.”
Prior research had identified clusters of superbolts over the Northeast Atlantic Ocean, the Mediterranean Sea, and the Altiplano in Peru and Bolivia, one of the highest plateaus globally. Efraim’s team sought to uncover what factors contribute to the formation of these powerful superbolts in certain locations.
The study represents the pioneering explanation for the distribution and formation of superbolts over land and sea across the world. The research team analyzed key environmental factors, including land and water surface height, charging zone height, cloud temperatures, and aerosol concentrations, to determine correlations with superbolt strength.
Contrary to previous assumptions, the presence of aerosols did not exhibit a significant impact on superbolt strength. Instead, the study revealed that a shorter distance between the charging zone and land or water surface significantly increased the energy of lightning strikes. Storms occurring closer to the Earth’s surface facilitate the formation of higher-energy bolts due to reduced electrical resistance, resulting in more potent lightning strikes.
The study identified three regions — the Northeast Atlantic Ocean, the Mediterranean Sea, and the Altiplano — as the most frequent superbolt hotspots, all sharing a common trait: a minimal gap between lightning charging zones and surfaces.
Efraim remarked on the significance of this correlation, saying, “The correlation we saw was very clear and significant, and it was very thrilling to see that it occurs in the three regions. This is a major breakthrough for us.”
Understanding the relationship between a cloud’s charging zone proximity to the surface and the occurrence of superbolts has critical implications for predicting how climate changes may affect these phenomena in the future. While warmer temperatures might result in an increase in weaker lightning, an increase in atmospheric moisture levels could counteract that effect. Further research is required to provide a definitive answer.
Moving forward, Efraim and his team plan to investigate other potential factors influencing superbolt formation, such as changes in the magnetic field or variations in the solar cycle.
Efraim concluded, “There is much more unknown, but what we’ve found out here is a big piece of the puzzle. And we’re not done yet. There’s much more to do.”
The study titled “A Possible Cause for Preference of Super Bolt Lightning Over the Mediterranean Sea and the Altiplano” was authored by Avichay Efraim, Daniel Rosenfeld, Robert Holzworth, and Joel A. Thornton and was published on September 19, 2023, in the Journal of Geophysical Research Atmospheres.