what temp. does lightning occur at ?

[The Flying Cokeman]

Hi there,

Could anyone tell me what temperature lightning is most likely to occur at?
The problem is that in the "preparing for the Cathay Pacific interview book" the answer is -5 to +5 degrees and in the Gary Bristow Book "Ace the technical pilot interview" book it is stated -10 to +10 degrees?
Can't find anything about on the internet and for some reasons the search function pprune is not working
Can anyone help me on this one pls
cheers,
tfcm

[max AB]

Re: what temp. does lightning occur at ?

They are both correct as lightning is most likely to occur around the freezing level. This is because the air is driest and more easily becomes seperated into negative and positively charged particles. At least that is what I remember from my met exam 20 years ago....

[sir sank]

Re: what temp. does lightning occur at ?

As max AB says they are both right, -10 to +10 just covering a larger spread. However IF you were to be asked at an interview in the near future it may be useful to get the answer they prefer. But i presume its not an Emer.

[tony montana]

Re: what temp. does lightning occur at ?

to be more precise a lightning occurs between 265,5 and 280,5 Kelvin, so that 'll give you' re answer between -7,5°C and +7,5°C
sorry I just kidding

[Treetopflyer]

Re: what temp. does lightning occur at ?

I've always been told it is from -8°C to +8°C (oh and yes, I see ya comin, Tony Montana, that half a degree is of utmost importance, do not be mistaken... )

But again, I haven't been a lightning bolt in a previous life, so I really wouldn't know for sure...

[issi noho]

Re: what temp. does lightning occur at ?

There is a pink AIC which gives the answer -10 to +10 (5000 ft either side of freezing) thats probably what the interviewer looks for. There is other stuff in ithere too if you want to look keen.

[catchup]

Re: what temp. does lightning occur at ?

My frigerator has +4 deg and I've never observed any lightning at all....

[eastern wiseguy]

Re: what temp. does lightning occur at ?

It only happens when the door is closed!

[Farmer 1]

Re: what temp. does lightning occur at ?

Summat wrong with mine, then, because I only have lighting when the door is open.

[Trislander]

Re: what temp. does lightning occur at ?

And here's the strange thing, my microwave makes lightning at any temp when i cook a tin of baked beans.

[catchup]

Re: what temp. does lightning occur at ?

Yesterday evening we had some lightning in our fireplace. The paper-trash to open the fire contained some leftovers of fireworks.

[Matthew Parsons]

Re: what temp. does lightning occur at ?

I guarantee there will be more lightning seen in the -10 to +10 range than the -5 to +5 range.

[spitfires rule]

Re: what temp. does lightning occur at ?

I have always been told that it occurs most at -5 to 5 range

[vapilot2004]

Re: what temp. does lightning occur at ?

Interesting bit on 'electric' hurricanes in 2005 - new phenomenon observed regarding lightning and hurricane using a NASA equipped modified U-2:

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2...htm?list757758

Around here lightning seems to occur mostly when it's between 24-40C outside.