Volcano Pics

[Febo]

I knew it Matt, just forgot is all. It looks totally apocalyptic tho. Love it.

[A//// Guy]

Do they not teach anything in school anymore? The ash rubbing together in the air causes static electricity to build up which causes the lightning. I'm damn near positive I learned that in 6th grade.

The ash rubbing together is not why.... And no they didnt teach this in any school I went to, not even college geology or meteorology did they cover this for some reason.


What happens:

"Thankfully, the ash that comes out is hot enough so that not every particle is neutral: many are positively charged ions and many are negatively charged ions.

If you can make something push the positive ions differently than it pushes the negative ones, you can create a charge separation! If you get enough charges separated, you can make a large enough voltage to give you lightning!"

[Febo]

^^ ftw

[Halon]

Yeah I don't think volcanic ash was in any of my curriculums. They did however teach me that there were 9 planets...

[Matt D.]

The ash rubbing together is not why.... And no they didnt teach this in any school I went to, not even college geology or meteorology did they cover this for some reason.


What happens:

"Thankfully, the ash that comes out is hot enough so that not every particle is neutral: many are positively charged ions and many are negatively charged ions.

If you can make something push the positive ions differently than it pushes the negative ones, you can create a charge separation! If you get enough charges separated, you can make a large enough voltage to give you lightning!"
Sort of correct, though I have never heard of this, but I'm just a closet science nerd. Also, quote your sources. ;)

http://geology.com/articles/volcanic-lightning/

http://www.livescience.com/environment/volcano-lightning-Eyjafjallajokull-100420.html

Scientists don't know exactly how lightning is created in an ash cloud, however. But they expect it's a result of particles rubbing together, generating friction and electrical charges.

The volcano lightning may be generated in a similar way to that in normal thunderstorms in a process scientists have dubbed "dirty thunderstorms." In a normal thunderstorm, ice particles rub together to generate an electrical charge; in the case of a volcano, rock fragments, ash and ice may all rub together to produce this charge.

Saying I'm wrong is, well, wrong. :) It's the same deal as when you rubbed a glass rod with silk in science class.

[A//// Guy]

Matt D is never wrong. :)

http://scienceblogs.com/startswithabang/2010/04/volcanic_lightning_eyjafjallaj.php

[Matt D.]

Matt D is never wrong. :)
Haha not at all, I gladly admit when I'm wrong.

[Kevin 1G Drummer]

Do they not teach anything in school anymore? The ash rubbing together in the air causes static electricity to build up which causes the lightning. I'm damn near positive I learned that in 6th grade.
Hahaha +1