26 June, Lightning on Caradon Hill in Cornwall. #nature #lightning #cornwall

The Ground Reacts Nature hates imbalance. Because the bottom of the cloud is packed with a massive negative charge, it completely repels the negative charges on the ground below it. As a result, a strong positive charge builds up on the earth's surface directly underneath the storm. This positive charge shadows the cloud like a ghost, climbing up tall objects like trees, buildings, hillsides, and telephone poles. The Connection (The Flash) When the difference between the negative cloud base and the positive ground gets strong enough, the air can no longer keep them apart. The Stepped Leader: The cloud shoots an invisible stream of negative electricity downward toward the earth in jagged steps. The Streamer: As it gets close, a surge of positive electricity from the ground reaches upward to meet it. The Return Stroke: The moment they connect, an incredibly powerful electric current surges upward at nearly the speed of light. This is the brilliant flash of lightning we actually see.