Why does Catatumbo lightning occur?

Unstable air and moisture are key, and Catatumbo Lightning gets a boost from a unique topography. When water droplets of humid air collide with ice crystals from the cold air, it produces static charges that build up. The release discharges a zigzag of electrical energy strong enough to light 100 million bulbs.

What gas causes Catatumbo lightning?

methane
However most of their theories proved to be unsuccessful thus research is still being conducted in order to obtain conclusive scientific explanations, but for now the most acceptable theory proposes that the winds from the Andes Mountains collide with ionized gases, such as methane, causing them to rise up and then …

When did the Catatumbo lightning start?

In 2002, Quiroga launched a campaign to have the Catatumbo lightning pronounced the world’s first UNESCO World Heritage Weather Phenomenon—a seemingly quixotic crusade, given that thus far the organization has only recognized physical places.

What caused the everlasting storm?

The collision with the winds coming from the Andes Mountains causes the storms and associated lightning, a result of electrical discharges through ionised gases, specifically the methane created by the decomposition of organic matter in the marshes.

How long does Catatumbo Lightning last?

Also sometimes referred to as Venezuela’s “eternal thunderstorm,” the Catatumbo Lightning doesn’t actually fire nonstop, but for at least a few centuries, it has occurred around 150 times per year. Sometimes it lasts as long as 10 hours per day, with as many as 300 lightning strikes per hour.

Why does Lake Maracaibo get so much lightning?

NASA says Lake Maracaibo has a unique geography and climate ideal for the development of thunderstorms. Located along part of the Andes mountains, storms form at night as the cool mountain breeze clashes with the warm, moist air over the lake.

Is the Catatumbo storm real?

Catatumbo lightning is an atmospheric phenomenon in Venezuela. It occurs only over the mouth of the Catatumbo River where it empties into Lake Maracaibo. It originates from a mass of storm clouds over nearby mountains, and occurs during 140 to 160 nights a year, 10 hours per day and up to 280 times per hour.

Where can I see Catatumbo Lightning?

Venezuela, which crowns the South American continent, and lists the longest Caribbean coastline and the world’s highest waterfalls amongst its accolades, is also home to the Catatumbo Lightning, the world’s most frequent and intense thunderstorm.

What is the everlasting lightning storm?

Almost 300 nights a year, a lightning storm rages in a small part of Venezuela. Known as Relámpago del Catatumbo, the storm is located where the Catatumbo River flows into Lake Maracaibo. This everlasting lightning storm may be the world’s largest generator of ozone. …

Can you visit Catatumbo?

Tours to the Catatumbo Lightning run from Mérida, a popular town in the Venezuelan Andes. Various tour companies operate the trip, although Alan Highton (www.cocolight.com) offers the only two-night tour.

Can lightning be harnessed?

2. Lightning strikes over a year are around 1.4 billion, and of those, only about 25 per cent are actually ground strikes since most (75 per cent) are intra-cloud and cloud-cloud, and cannot be harnessed. So, basically, all the lightning we can capture will give the world enough electricity for only nine days!

Can you visit Catatumbo lightning?

How often does Catatumbo lightning occur?

The Catatumbo lightning, or in Relámpago del Catatumbo in Spanish, occurs from the masses of storm clouds with more than 1 km in height, and that happens as frequently as 140 to 160 nights a year. In a day, it occurs about 280 times per hour in a 10-hour duration.

What is a Catatumbo storm?

The single remarkable feature of the Catatumbo storms is their formation in the same place and at the same time for (what many sources say is) nearly half of the nights throughout the year.

What is Relámpago del Catatumbo?

Catatumbo lightning ( Spanish: Relámpago del Catatumbo) is an atmospheric phenomenon that occurs over the mouth of the Catatumbo River where it empties into Lake Maracaibo in Venezuela.

Where does lightning occur in the Caribbean?

It occurs over and around Lake Maracaibo, typically over a bog area formed where the Catatumbo River flows into the lake. The lightning changes its frequency throughout the year, and it is different from year to year.