Lightning - Revision history

RichardWSmith: Added link

2022-05-26T15:47:07Z

Added link

RichardWSmith: Lightning was likely more common on ancient Mars.

2022-05-26T15:41:40Z

Lightning was likely more common on ancient Mars.

Jburk at 23:25, 17 December 2018

2018-12-17T23:25:56Z

Spriditis: Undo revision 5823 by 80.68.92.100 (Talk) vandalism

2011-09-27T05:42:11Z

Undo revision 5823 by 80.68.92.100 (Talk) vandalism

80.68.92.100: /* References */

2011-09-26T17:23:57Z

References

Ioneill: /* Large-scale (weather phenomena) */ minor typo

2007-11-25T00:03:57Z

Large-scale (weather phenomena): minor typo

Ioneill: adding image

2007-11-25T00:03:09Z

adding image

Ioneill: typo

2007-11-24T23:49:39Z

typo

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2007-11-24T23:48:40Z

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Ioneill: New page: ==Large-scale (weather phenomena)== It is unknown whether Mars experiences '''lightning''' in it's atmosphere. Terrestrial lightning may be generated by a number of factors, but the...

2007-11-24T23:48:03Z

New page: ==Large-scale (weather phenomena)== It is unknown whether Mars experiences '''lightning''' in it's atmosphere. Terrestrial lightning may be generated by a number of factors, but the...

New page

==Large-scale (weather phenomena)==
It is unknown whether [[Mars]] experiences '''lightning''' in it's atmosphere.

Terrestrial lightning may be generated by a number of factors, but the result is the same, bright [[static electricity|electric discharge]]. Due to [[Earth]]'s complex and ubiquitous weather dynamics, hot and cool air can be forced together along weather fronts, or by volcanic clouds of hot ash for example. This generates negative electrical charge through friction. If the conditions are right (and the "correct" conditions are of much debate)<ref>[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lightning Lightning on Wikipedia.]</ref>, the static electric charge may discharge in the form of a lightning bolt, grounding the static charge with the planet surface, completing the atmospheric "circuit" via a stream of negative current of ~40 kA. The surrounding air is instantly heated to 10,000K, producing a shock wave that can be heard as a crack of thunder.

It is very difficult to explain the possible existence of lightning on Mars. There is little observational evidence (although [[meteorite]] imact craters have been highlighted as possible sites of electrical discharge)<ref>[http://www.thunderbolts.info/tpod/2005/arch05/051003marslightning.htm A controversial view that observed meteorite impacts may in fact be site of lightning strikes.]</ref>, but localized lightning storms may result from intense [[dust storms]] or [[solar wind]] interactions. Lightning storms from Mars weather systems seem highly improbable due to the low dynamics and tenuous atmosphere (the capacitance of the atmosphere would therefore be very low). Needless to say, if lightning does occur during intense [[dust storms]], Mars settlers will be at massive risk.

==Small-scale (static discharge)==
Low humidity environments produce a high risk of static electric discharge. When humidity is high, static electricity is constantly discharged as humid air contains [[water]] vapor which is highly conductive. There will be very little risk of [[static electricity|sparks or electric shock]] when a conducting object (i.e. a hand) is in close proximity to another conducting object (i.e. a metal door). However, if humidity is low, the capacitance of conducting objects will greatly increase, allowing the buildup of electrical charge.<ref>[http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2005/10aug_crackling.htm NASA article on the risks of static electricity.]</ref> Sparking may result. Small, static electric shocks can cause injury and extensive damage to electrical circuits, so the humidity of settlement interiors must be carefully managed.

===References===
<references/>

[[category:hazards]]
[[category:physics]]

@@ Line 12: / Line 12: @@
 ==Lightning in Mars' past==
-It is very hard for lightning to form in the near vacuum of Mars, but in the past, Mars had a much thicker [[atmosphere]] (estimated to be around 3 bar).  In this ancient atmosphere, lightning would have been much more likely.
+It is very hard for lightning to form in the near vacuum of Mars, but in the past, Mars had a much thicker [[atmosphere]] (estimated to be around 3 bar).  In this ancient atmosphere, lightning would have been much more likely.  See also, [[atmospheric loss]].
 ===References===

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:25, 17 December 2018
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	<references/>		<references/>

−	[[category:~~hazards]]~~	+	[[category:Atmospheric Sciences]]
−	~~[[category:physics]]~~
−	~~[[category:climate~~]]

← Older revision		Revision as of 05:42, 27 September 2011
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	Low humidity environments produce a high risk of static electric discharge. When humidity is high, static electricity is constantly discharged as humid air contains [[water]] vapor which is highly conductive. There will be very little risk of [[static electricity\|sparks or electric shock]] when a conducting object (i.e. a hand) is in close proximity to another conducting object (i.e. a metal door). However, if humidity is low, the capacitance of conducting objects will greatly increase, allowing the buildup of electrical charge.<ref>[http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2005/10aug_crackling.htm NASA article on the risks of static electricity.]</ref> Sparking may result. Small, static electric shocks can cause injury and extensive damage to electrical circuits, so the humidity of settlement interiors must be carefully managed.		Low humidity environments produce a high risk of static electric discharge. When humidity is high, static electricity is constantly discharged as humid air contains [[water]] vapor which is highly conductive. There will be very little risk of [[static electricity\|sparks or electric shock]] when a conducting object (i.e. a hand) is in close proximity to another conducting object (i.e. a metal door). However, if humidity is low, the capacitance of conducting objects will greatly increase, allowing the buildup of electrical charge.<ref>[http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2005/10aug_crackling.htm NASA article on the risks of static electricity.]</ref> Sparking may result. Small, static electric shocks can cause injury and extensive damage to electrical circuits, so the humidity of settlement interiors must be carefully managed.

−	~~God help me, I put aside a whole atfreonon to figure this out.~~	+	===References===
		+	<references/>
		+
		+	[[category:hazards]]
		+	[[category:physics]]
		+	[[category:climate]]

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:23, 26 September 2011
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	Low humidity environments produce a high risk of static electric discharge. When humidity is high, static electricity is constantly discharged as humid air contains [[water]] vapor which is highly conductive. There will be very little risk of [[static electricity\|sparks or electric shock]] when a conducting object (i.e. a hand) is in close proximity to another conducting object (i.e. a metal door). However, if humidity is low, the capacitance of conducting objects will greatly increase, allowing the buildup of electrical charge.<ref>[http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2005/10aug_crackling.htm NASA article on the risks of static electricity.]</ref> Sparking may result. Small, static electric shocks can cause injury and extensive damage to electrical circuits, so the humidity of settlement interiors must be carefully managed.		Low humidity environments produce a high risk of static electric discharge. When humidity is high, static electricity is constantly discharged as humid air contains [[water]] vapor which is highly conductive. There will be very little risk of [[static electricity\|sparks or electric shock]] when a conducting object (i.e. a hand) is in close proximity to another conducting object (i.e. a metal door). However, if humidity is low, the capacitance of conducting objects will greatly increase, allowing the buildup of electrical charge.<ref>[http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2005/10aug_crackling.htm NASA article on the risks of static electricity.]</ref> Sparking may result. Small, static electric shocks can cause injury and extensive damage to electrical circuits, so the humidity of settlement interiors must be carefully managed.

−	~~===References===~~	+	God help me, I put aside a whole atfreonon to figure this out.
−	~~<references/>~~
−
−	~~[[category:hazards]]~~
−	~~[[category:physics]]~~
−	~~[[category:climate]]~~

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 ==Large-scale (weather phenomena)==
-[[Image:Elec_dust_storm.jpg|thumb|right|200px|An artist's impression of electrical discharge in a Mars [[dust storm]].]]
+[[Image:Elec_dust_storm.jpg|thumb|right|200px|An artist's impression of electrical discharge in a Mars [[dust storms|dust storm]].]]
 It is unknown whether [[Mars]] experiences '''lightning''' in it's atmosphere.
@@ Line 6: / Line 6: @@
 Terrestrial lightning may be generated by a number of factors, but the result is the same, bright [[static electricity|electric discharge]]. Due to [[Earth]]'s complex and ubiquitous weather dynamics, hot and cool air can be forced together along weather fronts, or by volcanic clouds of hot ash for example. This generates negative electrical charge through friction. If the conditions are right (and the "correct" conditions are of much debate)<ref>[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lightning Lightning on Wikipedia.]</ref>, the static electric charge may discharge in the form of a lightning bolt, grounding the static charge with the planet surface, completing the atmospheric "circuit" via a stream of negative current of ~40 kA. The surrounding air is instantly heated to 10,000K, producing a shock wave that can be heard as a crack of thunder.
 It is very difficult to explain the possible existence of lightning on Mars. There is little observational evidence (although [[meteorites|meteorite]] imact craters have been highlighted as possible sites of electrical discharge)<ref>[http://www.thunderbolts.info/tpod/2005/arch05/051003marslightning.htm A controversial view that observed meteorite impacts may in fact be site of lightning strikes.]</ref>, but localized lightning storms may result from intense [[dust storms]] or [[solar wind]] interactions. Lightning storms from Mars weather systems seem highly improbable due to the low dynamics and tenuous atmosphere (the capacitance of the atmosphere would therefore be very low). Needless to say, if lightning does occur during intense [[dust storms]], Mars settlers will be at massive risk.
 ==Small-scale (static discharge)==

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:03, 25 November 2007
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	==Large-scale (weather phenomena)==		==Large-scale (weather phenomena)==
		+	[[Image:Elec_dust_storm.jpg\|thumb\|right\|200px\|An artist's impression of electrical discharge in a Mars [[dust storm]].]]
		+
	It is unknown whether [[Mars]] experiences '''lightning''' in it's atmosphere.		It is unknown whether [[Mars]] experiences '''lightning''' in it's atmosphere.

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:48, 24 November 2007
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	[[category:physics]]		[[category:physics]]
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