The Never Ending Lightining Storm fact

THE NEVER ENDING LIGHTINING

STORM

The Most Beautiful Wonders Of Nature

Relámpago del Catatumbo is an atmospheric phenomenon in Venezuela. It occurs only over the mouth of the Catatumbo River where it empties into Lake Maracaibo. On the southwestern side of Venezuela’s massive Lake Maracaibo

The Relámpago del Catatumbo (relámpago means lightning, Catatumbo is a nearby river) is a lightning storm that rages most nights for eight months of every year, and has been flashing for thousands of years. As many as 40,000 lightning bolts illuminate the sky every night at a rate of 18 to 60 bolts per minute. But this disturbance happens high in the troposphere, about three miles up, so the storm raging overhead is eerily silent when viewed from the ground.

It originates from a mass of storm clouds at a height of more than 5 km, and occurs during 140 to 160 nights a year, 10 hours per day and up to 280 times per hour. It occurs over and around Lake Maracaibo, typically over the bog area formed where the Catatumbo River flows into the lake.

The Beacon of Maracaibo is most active at two times of the year: in May (at the beginning of the wet season) and in October (at its end). During the region’s dry season, particularly in January and February, lighting storms are less frequent and have been known to stop altogether.

The original name was rib a-ba or “river of fire”. The name was given by the native people in the region

Historical Record

Although the phenomenon is believed to be far older,

the first written record of the storm was made by Lope de Vega in his 1597 work “The Dragontea.” In the poem, de Vega recounted how the lighting illuminated Sir Francis Drake’s fleet, which was attempting to launch a surprise attack on the town of Maracaibo. Drake was defeated.

The second, probably the biggest one, was during the Venezuelan War of Independence on July 24, 1823. The lightning revealed sneaky Spanish fleet which was trying to get to the shore. This gave the Adm. José Prudencio Padilla enough time to fend off the inv

aders.

Origin

No one really knows why the lightning persists, although theories abound.Even scientist can’t yet be fully explained, the Relámpago del Catatumbo is unique, and holds several global records to prove it.

Scientists explain the phenomenon,And

plenty of theories have attempted an

explanation.

1).Methane

Lake Maracaibo is found within a larger, low elevation basin surrounded by swamps, all of which sit above a massive oil field. Hand-in-glove with oil is methane.Some familiar with the phenomenon think the methane “may increase the conductivity of the air over Catatumbo, allowing lighting to recharge faster and fire more frequently.” hot methane rising from the gaseous bogs of the Catatumbo River mixes with cold, dry air coming down from the Andes Mountains to create perfect storm conditions.

FALIURE OF THEORY:- Although this sounds like a good theory, it has been rejected by at least a few atmospheric scientists. These researchers claim that the concentration of methane in the atmosphere around Catatumbo is too small to produce such an effect, and they point to other areas of the world where methane concentrations are higher, but no lightning has been observed.

2). A mixture of organic compounds found in sedimentary rocks that is highly concentrated in the area due to underground petroleum fields. Kerogen leaking into the atmosphere may contribute to the buildup of methane that sparks storms, some scientists believe.Above Lake Maracaibo had enhanced conductivity because of methane from oilfields below

3).Unique Topography and Climate

More experts are satisfied with the explanation that the proximity of two spines of the Andes Mountains and the wind and moisture from the Caribbean Sea.Weather and humidity may also play a role, as the last time the Relámpago had a significant pause was in 2010 when a powerful El Niño caused massive droughts in much of the country. Others explain this pause by citing the rampant deforestation in the region, which may also affect it in unknown ways.NOAA/CIRA VIIRS]

NOW TIME FOR :-

AMAZING FACT PRO+

1). The world’s top producer of ozone, which is created when atmospheric oxygen (O2) is forced apart by radiation, and the free oxygen molecules eventually join an existing pair to create ozone (O3). But this ozone isn’t the harmful, anthropogenic kind that settles at ground level; it’s the good ozone that populates the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere. Because the Relámpago produces so much, some environmentalists are calling for it to be named a UNESCO world heritage site.

2).Guinness book of world records In January 2014, Venezuela entered the Guinness Book of World Records for the most lightning strikes per hour .The Guinness Book of World Records says the area has the most lighting strikes per square meter of anywhere in the world.taking the record from the town of Kikika in the Democratic Republic of Congo

3).This storm has 1 million lightning strikes a year.

4). Responsible for Venezuela’s independence.

it's saved the area from attack (by illuminating ships) and helped mariners navigate.the spectacular phenomenon may even be responsible for Venezuela’s independence.

5).The sky above this river never sleeps.Producing 3,600 flashes per hour, for 10 hours at a time,

6).A particular spot on a particular lake attracts 1.2 million lightning bolts a year.

  7).That’s about 28 lighting strikes every minute — enough energy to power 100 million light bulbs.

  8).The most lightning-struck place on earth. This electric spot, where the Catatumbo River empties into Lake Maracaibo in Venezuela’s far northwest, is believed to be the most lightning-struck place on earth.

  9).The lightining is so colourful

VIDEO    Showing threatning lightining at     Relámpago
del Catatumbo