|
BALL LIGHTNING
The frequency of Ball Lightning events is not clearly known but it seems to be very infrequently. When it does occur it is usually associated with a thunderstorm but it can also occur, more rarely, in seemigly ordinary weather conditions as can ordinary lightning on rare occasions. There seems to be periods of inactivity and peak periods where many events take place, regionally and globaly.
The distinction between Ball Lightning and other forms of ALP (Anomalous Luminous Phenomena) such as 'Earthlights', 'Geophysical Meteors' and meteoric electrostatic / electromagnetic objects that leave no crater or material evidence is unclear. BL's are known to emanate from volcanic / earthquake activity, dust storms, thunderstorms and perhaps from astrophysical matter. It is suggested that thunderstorms moving over the earth have geophysical affects interacting with tectonic activity (Ol'khovatov et al.) and perhaps work together to produce Ball Lightning under certain conditions. At least one model (Leonov c1965) predicts an increased incidence of Ball Lightning during solar flares however some scientists say that there is no proof of this.
There are many theories about Ball Lightning. It may perhaps be that there is more than one explanation accounting for the wide variety and seemingly inconsistant behaviour. Variations in appearence and behaviour are such that all manner of hybrid types have been seen. The volatile red-yellow-orange type I photographed appears to be the most common although they are generally around soccer ball size. Striking 'up close encounters' of ones similar to the one I photographed can be found in BL Info 4 (see 'Glen Waverley 2001') and BL Info 5.
Volatile Ball Lightning has sometimes been referred to as 'Gorgons' ('Gorgons and Tornadoes' - E.Lewis) as is the BL associated with seismic activity in Japan. Super BL is another term sometimes used. One of the largest recorded was 100 metres diameter in Queensland, Australia. Similar exotic light phenomena was seen in Western Australia in the 1990's. Small scale (tennis to soccer ball size) BL can vary between highly 'charged' to faint transparent spheres or other shapes.
A more generic term 'Fireball' is also sometimes used but more often describes astronomical / geophysical meteors although it seems they too can exhibit similar electomagnetic or plasma characteristics.
Ball Lightning sounds range from being silent to hissing and crackling through to very loud roaring noises "as if standing next to a speeding train". The sounds can be in the Very Low Frequency range so that although some distance away, they can be heard and seen at the same time independent of 'the speed of sound'. See 'Abnormal sounds made by Fireballs - MIAC' and Ol'khovatov web sites. Most reports of Ball Lightning show that decay was silent, but in some reports the decay is described as explosive. Of one collection of 78 reports, 69% described silent decay and 31% explosive decay (Rayle 1966).
It is speculated that the unsolved mysterious explosion in Siberia (Tunguska) in 1908 could possibly have been a form of BL or 'Geophysical Meteor' rather than an ordinary meteorite. There was no crater found indicating it exploded above ground (see 'Geophysical Meteors' Ol'khovatov). In the same year as the Tunguska event severe dust storms were experienced in Australia and Halleys Comet also swept by Earth.
Previously in 1902, simultaneous dust, smoke and mud storms occurred globally. The scale and enormity of the dust ans smoke could not be accounted for when the amount of matter produced from the known volcanic activity of that year was examined. Ball Lightning/dust storms occurred at that time in Australia. Larger singular 'fireballs' were also observed travelling long distances while others rained down like bombs on the day of 12th November 1902.
Ball Lightning and Earthlights have been associated with earthquakes and are being studied (see TUVPO web site). BL has been directly observed and photographed emanating from volcanoes. Off the coast of Japan they rise in the air from volcanic vents beneath the sea and have terrorised coastal towns. Some Japanese have thought of them as the spirits of samurai warriors. Perhaps the myths of 'fire breathing dragons' diving from the sky originate from observed BL events.
They are mostly orange, yellow, red, gold or white but can also be blue, green, or purple (NASA survey). A bright central core is sometimes observed or they can be dim luminous transparent balls. Close observations of bright orange ones are often described as 'like looking at a minature sun' with rapid swirling or tornadic like inner structure, Internal 'lightning' is often seen. Sometimes lightning like bolts (or prolonged arcing) have been seen rising to the cloud base above or to the ground or even between multiple balls. The 'outer surface' of some balls have been described as having an intricate 'lattice like' lightning structure. Others have an indiscernable diffuse outline. There are also some rare accounts of BL appearing dark blue or greyish to black, sometimes with small crackling arcing.
BL are sometimes seen passing through glass windows. They can either leave a large diameter hole in the glass or no apparent hole at all. It has been theorised that BL can vapourise the glass in a small conical channel micro-millimeters in size. The surrounding glowing 'corona' reappears on the other side giving the illusion that a larger ball had passed through the window leaving the glass intact.
Earth Lights and Earthquake Lights may be related to Ball Lightning. Similar to Ball Lightning, Earth Lights can hover, fly rapidly, perform aerobatic manoeuvres, merge together and follow terrain or even chase cars giving the impression that they have intelligence or are controlled however geomagnetic / electromagnetic influences are possibly the cause of this behaviour. Ball Lightning is often attracted to railway lines giving a possible explanations to certain 'Ghost Train' legends.One example of this occurred near Diggers Rest, Melbourne (see BL Info 5).
Ern Mainka
|
