Lightning Strikes Earth 100 Times Every Second

Our planet is in a constant state of electrical turmoil. Fueled by roughly 2,000 thunderstorms raging at any given moment, the sky unleashes a barrage of nearly 100 lightning strikes every second. This relentless activity, cumulating in over eight million flashes daily, forms a vital part of Earth's "global atmospheric electrical circuit," a continuous flow of current between the ionosphere and the surface that helps maintain the planet's electrical balance.

This spectacular display is a result of static electricity on a colossal scale. Within turbulent storm clouds, colliding ice crystals and water droplets separate positive and negative charges. When this electrical imbalance becomes too great for the air to insulate, a massive discharge occurs to restore equilibrium. This isn't just a bright flash; it's an intensely hot channel of plasma reaching temperatures five times hotter than the surface