- Joined
- Jun 13, 2018
- Messages
- 869
With all these comments, I wonder how many looking for something solid to do about lightning are left dazzled ?
As PRC has pointed out, (and I agree)- if you are going to take this subject seriously, then there is a protocol to follow. If you don't, then there will be consequences. I guess that is what separates the Amateur from he professional. Even those of us in a position (and with a budget) to take this subject to perfection have to know we will not achieve 100% -
The gods love the hubristic- the narcissistic- and delight in unduing them accordingly.
Oedipus , anyone ?
I will go back to my original suggestion to COM19; As a radio guy with a modest little discone antenna, the probablity of any direct lightning strike is very! small. But don't hold me to that. So is the chance of being hit by a piece of Blue Ice falling from some airliner's leaking toilet tank- but that doesn't stop me from walking outside.
Major strike--> unlikely
Secondary spike that comes in over some 'line'---> what to fear
Read all you can about lightning- follow the experts advice as closely as your purse can allow- then get on with life. Keep in mind that lightning comes in all forms- from the tiny, little sparks that can be generate as "static electricity" - and will Zap! a solid state memory-- to the miles long streaks that will blast to smithereens a church's bell tower--
And extends to this, my favorite:
Ball Lightning
I wrote about this awhile back here in RR- but can't find that posting now. Oh well, down the memory hole-
I didn't see it personally, but I did see its effects afterwards.
It occurred at an ionospheric 'heating' transmitter site high in the Arctic.
Scene- its a dark, windless, moonless winter night; the Milky Way aflame with stars-- and- in the words of Robert Service- "the Northern Lights were running wild ....." Aurora Borealis supreme.
My friend and colleague had gone outside the living quarter's (a cosy ? Quonset hut) to check on one of the generators- leaving the rest of us ("its your turn to check on the monsters, Barb") with sitting around a glowing barrel stove, drinking a bottle of Jack Daniels.
She was hardly gone but a few minutes when she burst back in-
"Viens vite dehors! Ange Feu! " (Come outside quickly, its Angel Fire!")
"Angel Fire? what ?....No more for you Barbi"
"Cut her off !"
"No, really !- There is this white ball of.... what do you call it?.. Ball Lightning!.... its dancing on the -the (antenna) array!"
But by the time we were able to mobilize (not an easy thing to do on a night of minus 30F; going from sitting around a warm stove, and fortifed with adult beverage) -- by that time it was gone
"It was right up there, in the wires!- about a foot in diameter. It was a glowing white ball !... it floated about slowly, and landed at the base of that pole" (a tall telephone pole supporting a part of the huge curtain array.)
.............Okay, Barb.......... nothing to see here Guys
The next day I walked out to the base of that pole, and there, melted thru the snow and ice, ~3 feet down to bedrock- was a perfect one foot diameter hole.
____________________________________________________
A conclusion?... you can draw your own- but lightning comes in all forms....the gods love to toy with us.
Lauri
.
.
.
.
.
As PRC has pointed out, (and I agree)- if you are going to take this subject seriously, then there is a protocol to follow. If you don't, then there will be consequences. I guess that is what separates the Amateur from he professional. Even those of us in a position (and with a budget) to take this subject to perfection have to know we will not achieve 100% -
The gods love the hubristic- the narcissistic- and delight in unduing them accordingly.
Oedipus , anyone ?
I will go back to my original suggestion to COM19; As a radio guy with a modest little discone antenna, the probablity of any direct lightning strike is very! small. But don't hold me to that. So is the chance of being hit by a piece of Blue Ice falling from some airliner's leaking toilet tank- but that doesn't stop me from walking outside.
Major strike--> unlikely
Secondary spike that comes in over some 'line'---> what to fear
Read all you can about lightning- follow the experts advice as closely as your purse can allow- then get on with life. Keep in mind that lightning comes in all forms- from the tiny, little sparks that can be generate as "static electricity" - and will Zap! a solid state memory-- to the miles long streaks that will blast to smithereens a church's bell tower--
And extends to this, my favorite:
Ball Lightning
I wrote about this awhile back here in RR- but can't find that posting now. Oh well, down the memory hole-
I didn't see it personally, but I did see its effects afterwards.
It occurred at an ionospheric 'heating' transmitter site high in the Arctic.
Scene- its a dark, windless, moonless winter night; the Milky Way aflame with stars-- and- in the words of Robert Service- "the Northern Lights were running wild ....." Aurora Borealis supreme.
My friend and colleague had gone outside the living quarter's (a cosy ? Quonset hut) to check on one of the generators- leaving the rest of us ("its your turn to check on the monsters, Barb") with sitting around a glowing barrel stove, drinking a bottle of Jack Daniels.
She was hardly gone but a few minutes when she burst back in-
"Viens vite dehors! Ange Feu! " (Come outside quickly, its Angel Fire!")
"Angel Fire? what ?....No more for you Barbi"
"Cut her off !"
"No, really !- There is this white ball of.... what do you call it?.. Ball Lightning!.... its dancing on the -the (antenna) array!"
But by the time we were able to mobilize (not an easy thing to do on a night of minus 30F; going from sitting around a warm stove, and fortifed with adult beverage) -- by that time it was gone
"It was right up there, in the wires!- about a foot in diameter. It was a glowing white ball !... it floated about slowly, and landed at the base of that pole" (a tall telephone pole supporting a part of the huge curtain array.)
.............Okay, Barb.......... nothing to see here Guys
The next day I walked out to the base of that pole, and there, melted thru the snow and ice, ~3 feet down to bedrock- was a perfect one foot diameter hole.
____________________________________________________
A conclusion?... you can draw your own- but lightning comes in all forms....the gods love to toy with us.
Lauri
.
.
.
.
.
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