CATATUMBO LIGHTNING - SCI
& TECH
News: The "Catatumbo
Lightning": Venezuela's eternal storm
What's in the news?
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Catatumbo lightning is a natural event seen over
the Catatumbo River in Venezuela, where lightning strikes almost nonstop
Catatumbo Lightning:
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Catatumbo Lightning is an atmospheric phenomenon that occurs over the Catatumbo River in Venezuela.
Key Features:
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It specifically occurs at the Catatumbo Delta,
where the river meets Lake Maracaibo.
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It is known as one of the world’s largest lightning displays.
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This natural spectacle involves frequent and nearly
continuous lightning strikes that illuminate the night sky, creating a
mesmerizing light show.
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Catatumbo Lightning is most prevalent during the
wet season, typically from April to November.
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The consistent and abundant lightning activity has
earned the region the moniker “the
lightning capital of the world.”
Factors Behind Catatumbo
Lightning:
1. Weather Dynamics:
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Warm, moisture-laden air from the Caribbean Sea
clashes with cooler air descending from the Andes mountains, creating a dynamic
interplay of atmospheric forces.
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This collision, accentuated by the local landscape,
triggers rapid upward movement of warm air, leading to the formation of
towering cumulonimbus clouds.
2. Electrical Charge
Generation:
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Strong winds and temperature differentials within
these clouds generate electrical charges.
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Cumulonimbus clouds, towering over 5 km high,
accumulate vast amounts of static electricity.
3. Lightning Discharge:
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When the electrical potential within the clouds
reaches a critical level, it discharges in the form of lightning strikes.
Characteristics of
Catatumbo Lightning:
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Catatumbo lightning occurs on approximately 160 nights annually, exhibiting a
remarkable longevity.
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At its peak, the phenomenon generates an
astonishing average of 28 lightning
strikes per minute.