Open AccessReview and Microphysics of the maximum electricity atmospheric activity in the Word: the Catatumbo Lightning (Venezuela)
Author(s) -
Nelson Falcón
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
journal of atmospheric science research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2630-5119
DOI - 10.30564/jasr.v4i2.2740
Subject(s) - phenomenology (philosophy) , thunderstorm , meteorology , atmospheric electricity , lightning (connector) , polarization (electrochemistry) , atmospheric sciences , environmental science , geology , climatology , physics , electric field , chemistry , power (physics) , philosophy , epistemology , quantum mechanics
A review and phenomenology on the greatest lightning hotspots in the world, known as the Catatumbo Lightning, located southeast of Lake Maracaibo (Venezuela), is presented. A microphysical model is presented to explain the charging process through electrical displacement within the cells of the cloud, incorporating the role of the self-polarization of ice and methane molecules as pyroelectric aerosol, which accounts for the phenomenology and is consistent with the electrification in thunderstorm. It is concluded that the pyroelectric model allows to explain the phenomenology of the rapid discharges of the flashes in the Catatumbo lightning and could be applied in outer planetary lightning.