Has There Been an Increase in Lightning Activity Since the 1970’s?

Thunderstorm clouds are negatively charged at the base, positively charged at the top and they create regions of strong electric fields in the air over the ground. As the potential difference between the cloud-base and positively charged ground increases, the cloud releases a stepped ladder of negative, the ground sends up a streamer of positive and…boom.

But wouldn’t you know, there’s more to it? Storm convection, or the movement of heat and moisture in the atmosphere, is a driving force of thunderstorm clouds. So, have winter temperatures and coastal sea surface temperatures been on the rise since 1970? Both California coastal sea surface temps and winter temps have increased more than 1 degree F since 1970.

An increase of lightning strikes has been observed in India and found to be linked to climate change. So, Tony, you were right!

#Sources:

https://ghrc.nsstc.nasa.gov/lightning/lightning_primer.html.

https://oehha.ca.gov/climate-change/epic-2022/impacts-physical-systems/coastal-ocean-temperature#:~:text=Long%2Dterm%20measurements%20taken%20at,impacts%20were%20not%20as%20strong.

https://www.climatecentral.org/graphic/2024-winter-package?graphicSet=Average+Winter+Temperatures&location=Los+Angeles&lang=en

https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/science/climate-change-causing-more-frequent-and-deadly-lightning-strikes-scientists/articleshow/111716900.cms?from=mdr

I would have agreed with the reversal of the colors, but check out this image from NASA: GLM Data Image