What are lighting phenomena?
Lighting phenomena refer to the various occurrences related to lightning, which is a sudden electrostatic discharge that occurs during a thunderstorm. These phenomena can include:
- Lightning bolts: These are the most common form of lightning and are visible as a bright flash in the sky.
- Ball lightning: A rare and mysterious phenomenon, ball lightning appears as a glowing orb that floats in the air before disappearing.
- Lightning sprites: These are large-scale electrical discharges that occur high above thunderstorms and are often red or blue in color.
How does overvoltage occur due to lightning strikes?
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Direct Lightning Strikes: When lightning directly strikes an electrical system, such as a power line, substation, or building, it can introduce a massive surge of electrical energy into the system. This surge can cause immediate damage to equipment and infrastructure due to the extremely high voltage and current involved.
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Indirect Lightning Strikes: Even if lightning does not directly strike an electrical system, it can induce overvoltage events through electromagnetic induction. The intense electromagnetic field generated by nearby lightning strikes can induce high voltages and currents in nearby conductors, including power lines, communication cables, and metallic structures. This induced voltage can cause damage to connected equipment and systems.
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