Triple Strike Over Sedona, Arizona

Provided by: Todd Henry, Todds Natural Images
Summary authors & editors: Jim Foster; Todd Henry

The photo above showing three brilliant lightning strikes was captured just southeast of Sedona, Arizona on July 10, 2005. Because I live in an area having no street lights and only minimal light pollution, the sky is sufficiently dark to photograph details in lightning -- both cloud to ground and cloud to cloud strikes. A powerful bolt of cloud to ground lightning can deliver 100,000 amperes of current at millions of volts and may heat the surrounding air to a temperature of 50,000 degrees Fahrenheit.

Related Links:

• Lightning Science
• Lightning Primer
• Lightning Safety