Chapter
The Science Behind Thunderstorms
07:17 - 12:29 (05:12)
Warm air in the tropics, impregnated with humid Caribbean air, rises and comes in contact with colder air that often contains colder ice particles, generating static electricity and resulting in thunderstorms.
Clips
The warm and humid Caribbean air rising in Maracaibo, Venezuela triggers static electricity when it collides with ice particles in cooler air.
07:17 - 09:27 (02:10)
Summary
The warm and humid Caribbean air rising in Maracaibo, Venezuela triggers static electricity when it collides with ice particles in cooler air. This generates the constant lightning in the region.
ChapterThe Science Behind Thunderstorms
EpisodeShort Stuff: Catatumbo Lightning
PodcastStuff You Should Know
Michigan's Paulding Lights have baffled locals and scientists alike for decades, with theories ranging from paranormal activity to electromagnetic fields.
09:27 - 11:40 (02:13)
Summary
Michigan's Paulding Lights have baffled locals and scientists alike for decades, with theories ranging from paranormal activity to electromagnetic fields. Some have speculated that the lights are caused by uranium or methane deposits beneath the lake, while others think it's simply car headlights reflecting in the distance.
ChapterThe Science Behind Thunderstorms
EpisodeShort Stuff: Catatumbo Lightning
PodcastStuff You Should Know
The Catatumbo Lightning in Venezuela offers a spectacular show of lightning with accompanying strong surface winds around 300 nights a year, due to the El Nino phenomenon bringing dry wind in.
11:40 - 12:29 (00:48)
Summary
The Catatumbo Lightning in Venezuela offers a spectacular show of lightning with accompanying strong surface winds around 300 nights a year, due to the El Nino phenomenon bringing dry wind in. About a quarter of the population of Venezuela lives around the area.