Birthplace of ball lightning

Abstract

Examples of ball lightning formation at high altitude near a linear lightning channel are considered. A photograph of ball lightning emerging from a linear lightning channel is shown. It is shown that the process of ball lightning formation lasts no more than 30 ms. A model of ball lightning formation due to the action of a magnetic field pulse of a linear lightning current on the ionized volume of space is described. A scheme has been proposed to explain a rare event - the gathering of ball lightning from sparks. Cases of the formation of ball lightning at a large distance from the site of a linear lightning strike, when energy was transferred through wires, are considered. It is noted that the process of formation of such ball lightning and their properties differ markedly from ball lightning appearing near the channel of linear lightning. This made it possible to distinguish these objects into a special type of ball lightning. A model of the process of formation of such ball lightning is described, according to which their core consists of ions flowing from the electrode of an air electrical capacitor (antenna, power line), and the shell material is dust particles. Cases of observation of objects with a size of 50 microns - 1 mm appearing during electrical discharges in water are considered. The analogy of these objects with miniature ball lightning is shown.