892-Kilometres Megaflash From Texas To Kansas Shatters World Record For Longest Lightning Strike
As per Science Alert, researchers used data from the GOES East weather satellite, which orbits 22,236 miles above Earth's surface, to detect the enormous lightning strike. This satellite technology allowed scientists to track the megaflash, which wouldn't have been possible with conventional ground-based lightning detection networks that only detect ground strikes.
"We call it megaflash lightning, and we're just now figuring out the mechanics of how and why it occurs. It is likely that even greater extremes still exist, and that we will be able to observe them as additional high-quality lightning measurements accumulate over time," said geographical scientist Randy Cerveny of Arizona State University and the World Meteorological Organisation.
The WMO has established a new world record for the longest lightning flash – an incredible 829 km (515 miles) in a notorious storm hotspot in the United States of America. Details: https://t.co/Wxw5ykNW39 pic.twitter.com/lwGQ34TqMH
— World Meteorological Organization (@WMO) July 31, 2025
A megaflash that occurred on April 29, 2020, previously held the record for the longest horizontal distance, covering 768 kilometres across Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi.
"This new record clearly demonstrates the incredible power of the natural environment. Additionally, WMO assessment of environmental extremes such as this lightning distance record testifies to the significant scientific progress in observing, documenting, and evaluating such events. It is likely that even greater extremes still exist, and that we will be able to observe them as additional high-quality lightning measurements accumulate over time," Professor Randall Cerveny, rapporteur of the WMO's Committee on Weather and Climate Extremes, said in a statement.
How does lightning occur?
Lightning is a spectacular natural phenomenon that occurs when atmospheric turbulence causes particles to collide and generate electrical charge. As the charge builds up, it eventually discharges in a massive burst of electricity, producing millions of volts across the sky.
While most lightning bolts are short, typically less than 10 miles long and often striking vertically, some can travel horizontally through clouds, resulting in enormous bolts. When a lightning bolt exceeds 100 kilometres in length, it's classified as a megaflash, a rare and extraordinary event.
Tracking a megaflash requires meticulous analysis, combining satellite and ground-based data to recreate the event's extent in 3D. However, due to clouds often obscuring part of the strike, these enormous lightning events can easily go undetected, making their measurement even more challenging.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Indian Express
a day ago
- New Indian Express
A fiery meteor that punched through a Georgia home's roof is older than Earth, a scientist says
ATHENS, Ga.: A meteorite that punched a hole i n a Georgia homeowner's roof after blazing across the sky in a fiery streak is older than the Earth itself, according to scientist who examined fragments of the space rock. People in several Southern states reported seeing the mysterious fireball in broad daylight on June 26 as it hurtled toward the ground faster than the speed of sound. University of Georgia planetary geologist Scott Harris said in a press release Friday that he examined 23 grams (0.8 ounces) of meteorite fragments recovered from a piece the size of a cherry tomato that struck a man's roof like a bullet and left a dent in the floor of the home outside Atlanta. Examining the fragments under microscopes, Harris concluded the meteorite formed 4.56 billion years ago. That is roughly 20 million years older than the Earth. 'It belongs to a group of asteroids in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter that we now think we can tie to a breakup of a much larger asteroid about 470 million years ago,' Harris said. Harris said University of Georgia scientists and colleagues at Arizona State University plan to submit their findings with Nomenclature Committee of the Meteoritical Society. They propose naming the space rock the McDonough Meteorite, reflected the name of the Georgia city where it plunged to Earth.
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
2 days ago
- Business Standard
Meteor that hit a home in Georgia is older than Earth, says scientist
A meteorite that punched a hole in a Georgia home owner's roof after blazing across the sky in a fiery streak is older than the Earth itself, according to a scientist who examined fragments of the space rock. People in several Southern states reported seeing the mysterious fireball in broad daylight on June 26 as it hurtled toward the ground faster than the speed of sound. University of Georgia planetary geologist Scott Harris said in a press release on Friday that he examined 23 grams (0.8 ounces) of meteorite fragments recovered from a piece the size of a cherry tomato that struck a man's roof like a bullet and left a dent in the floor of the home outside Atlanta. Examining the fragments under microscopes, Harris concluded the meteorite formed 4.56 billion years ago. That is roughly 20 million years older than the Earth. "It belongs to a group of asteroids in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter that we now think we can tie to a breakup of a much larger asteroid about 470 million years ago, Harris said. Harris said University of Georgia scientists and colleagues at Arizona State University plan to submit their findings with Nomenclature Committee of the Meteoritical Society. They propose naming the space rock the McDonough Meteorite, reflected the name of the Georgia city where it plunged to Earth.
Economic Times
3 days ago
- Economic Times
NASA's Perseverance rover delivers high-resolution Mars panorama from Jezero Crater rim
Synopsis NASA's Perseverance rover has captured one of its sharpest panoramas yet from the Jezero Crater rim on Mars. The enhanced-color mosaic, assembled from 96 Mastcam-Z images, reveals 'float rocks,' sand ripples, and a geologic boundary, providing detailed views of some of the oldest terrain explored during the mission NASA's Perseverance rover captured this enhanced-color panorama from the Jezero Crater rim on Mars, showing float rocks, sand ripples, and a geologic boundary between olivine-rich and clay-bearing rocks NASA's Perseverance rover has produced a high-resolution panorama from a location called 'Falbreen' on the rim of Jezero Crater. The mosaic, assembled from 96 images taken by the Mastcam-Z instrument on May 26, 2025, the mission's 1,516th Martian day, or sol, offers one of the clearest views recorded so enhanced-color version of the image shows the Martian sky with a blue tint, while the natural-color version reveals its typical reddish hue. 'Our bold push for human space exploration will send astronauts back to the Moon,' said Sean Duffy, acting NASA administrator. 'Stunning vistas like that of Falbreen, captured by our Perseverance rover, are just a glimpse of what we'll soon witness with our own eyes. NASA's groundbreaking missions, starting with Artemis, will propel our unstoppable journey to take human space exploration to the Martian surface.' Also read: Trump orders NASA to kill 2 satellites that can function for many more years - the reason will shock all Jim Bell, principal investigator for Mastcam-Z at Arizona State University, noted that relatively dust-free skies gave a clear view of surrounding terrain. Enhanced color contrast was applied to highlight differences between the terrain and sky. Geologic features include float rock and boundary line The panorama features a large rock situated atop a dark, crescent-shaped sand ripple about 14 feet (4.4 meters) from the rover. Known as a 'float rock,' it likely originated elsewhere and was transported to its current location, possibly before the sand ripple notable element is an abrasion patch near the image's center, marking the 43rd rock Perseverance has abraded. The patch, two inches (5 centimeters) wide, allows scientists to study the unweathered interior of a rock before deciding to extract a core sample. The abrasion was made on May 22, followed by proximity science observations on May from the rover's path to Falbreen are visible along the mosaic's right edge, curving left toward a prior research site called 'Kenmore.' Midway through the panorama, lighter-toned olivine-rich rocks transition to darker, clay-bearing rocks that are believed to be much Jet Propulsion Laboratory, managed by Caltech, operates Perseverance for NASA's Science Mission Directorate as part of the Mars Exploration Program. Arizona State University leads Mastcam-Z operations in collaboration with Malin Space Science Systems.
