A lightning 829 kilometers long has officially become the largest ever recorded in history. To certify the company was the Committee for the meteorological and climatic extremes of the WMO (world meteorological organization). This impressive atmospheric phenomenon developed in October 2017, but only recently has been identified as a world record thanks to the advanced analysis of satellite data.
The mega-lampo crossed the skies between the eastern Texas and Kansas City, along a distance comparable to that between Paris and Venice. A car would take about 8-9 hours, while a scheduled plane would take at least 90 minutes to cover the same route. The previous record, recorded in April 2020, stopped at 768 km: this new lightning exceeds it 61 km.
The measurement was made possible thanks to the Goes-16 and Goes-17 satellites, developed by the US meteorological agency Noaa. The margin of error detected is only 8 km, a result that reflects scientific progress in the detection and analysis of extreme atmospheric events. According to Randall Cervenny, a wmo expert, it is very likely that even longer lightnings exist, ready to be discovered with the refinement of technologies.
Not only show, but also danger
The WMO underlined how phenomena of this type represent a concrete threat to public safety. Lightning of similar proportions can influence air traffic, generate forest fires and hit people at surprising distances from the storm. For this reason, early alert systems become increasingly crucial.
To protect yourself from lightning, the WMO recommends taking refuge in solid buildings equipped with electrical and hydraulic systems, or inside closed vehicles with metal roof. Nature, however fascinating, recalls that wonder often lives with risk.
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