Topic: Lightning

[James]

I just saw a really cool show about lightning. They showd some amazing pictures and videos. They weren't to clear on the physics involved. One of the most amazing things they showed in photos was the positive leaders that come up from Earth toward the negative stepped leaders looking for Earth.

My question is:

What is the composition of those visible positive strands coming from Earth?

Is all of that light coming from noble gasses completely stripped of electrons?

Or are we seeing holes?

I don't know what show it was, but the slow-mo video of lightning was mind-blowing stuff.

One of the most impressive things I've seen in a long time.

James. 

[BlinkenLights]

here is a great read that explains it well.
http://science.howstuffworks.com/lightning.htm

[Lazerjock]

I saw the same show! I expected the same old lightning science, but that was the best show on lightning I've ever seen. The extreme slow motion of a strike was amazing. All I could keep saying was WOW!
That comes from someone living in the lightning capital of the U.S.
We will go out to watch the lightning shows at night. We get some really great cloud to cloud stuff that will streach from horizon to horizon in the summer nights.