Eye on the Storm
01-14-2015
Author: Blog Editor in Education
Despite the vivid nature of lightning, it still remains one of the least understood weather phenomena. Among the things we do know is that the fear of lightning consistently appears in the top list of phobias. This may be partly due to the presence of thunder. Most children suffer from Astraphobia, as they are distressed by any loud noises, but only a small portion of them retain that fear. So what is it that causes some adults to go beyond the necessary precautions during a thunderstorm and makes them socially and occupationally dysfunctional during a thunderstorm?
Lightning strikes on Earth around 40-50 times per second, making no one a stranger to it, but most of that frequency occurs between other charged parts of clouds rather than the ground. The actual probability of being struck by lightning is 1 in 12,000 according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration storm data and assuming an 80 year lifetime. In comparison to the amount of people killed in car accidents in just the United States per year, 37,000, lightning seems relatively unthreatening considering the necessary precautions are taken. And yet the fear of riding in or driving automobiles is less prevalent.
The difference is perhaps the unpredictability of lightning. Cars were invented by and designed for humans, assuming some control over them. In contrast, lightning is often depicted as an “act of God”, illustrating our planet as a dart board for the whims of Zeus. This does seem to exist for automobiles when in the 1994 film Speed the fear of losing control of a vehicle is exacerbated by a time bomb that will go off if the bus goes below 50 miles per hour. However, for many drivers the act of driving has become so routine that it has been desensitized, which may be a concern in itself.
Though we most likely have experienced a thunder storm before, and may have been in a non-lethal car accident, there is something foreign about the occurrence of lightning on Earth. Brent McRoberts of Texas A&M University states that lightning bolts can reach as high as 54,000 degrees [Fahrenheit] which is over five times hotter than the surface of the sun, and can contain millions of volts of electricity. An unexpected visit to the sun isn’t exactly the kind of vacation we were planning. Despite how extreme this sounds, 90% of people struck by lightning survive the initial impact because it is so brief, averaging a duration of 30 microseconds, whereas other electrical or burn incidents become fatal because of prolonged exposure.
The danger of lightning is still not to be underestimated. Many complications can occur such as brain damage from electricity surging through the nervous system, or lung damage from the expanding of air due to heat (similarly to how thunder is created). Thunder is loud enough while being distant from the point of origin, so being AT that point, I imagine, is likely to result in hearing loss for at least some time afterwards. The shock can even cause a heart attack.
So while not entirely reasonable, the fear of lightning has roots deep within our culture and biology that are difficult to avoid. Though being struck by lightning will most likely affect your life, it’s not something that should control it. Knowing the facts about lightning will help to avoid being struck while also relieving any distressing myths.
Brian Dean is an editor and critic who studied Literature at Florida State University. “The Distance Formula” is an exploration of the equally expansive landscapes of the world and the mind.
Lightning strikes on Earth around 40-50 times per second, making no one a stranger to it, but most of that frequency occurs between other charged parts of clouds rather than the ground. The actual probability of being struck by lightning is 1 in 12,000 according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration storm data and assuming an 80 year lifetime. In comparison to the amount of people killed in car accidents in just the United States per year, 37,000, lightning seems relatively unthreatening considering the necessary precautions are taken. And yet the fear of riding in or driving automobiles is less prevalent.
The difference is perhaps the unpredictability of lightning. Cars were invented by and designed for humans, assuming some control over them. In contrast, lightning is often depicted as an “act of God”, illustrating our planet as a dart board for the whims of Zeus. This does seem to exist for automobiles when in the 1994 film Speed the fear of losing control of a vehicle is exacerbated by a time bomb that will go off if the bus goes below 50 miles per hour. However, for many drivers the act of driving has become so routine that it has been desensitized, which may be a concern in itself.
Though we most likely have experienced a thunder storm before, and may have been in a non-lethal car accident, there is something foreign about the occurrence of lightning on Earth. Brent McRoberts of Texas A&M University states that lightning bolts can reach as high as 54,000 degrees [Fahrenheit] which is over five times hotter than the surface of the sun, and can contain millions of volts of electricity. An unexpected visit to the sun isn’t exactly the kind of vacation we were planning. Despite how extreme this sounds, 90% of people struck by lightning survive the initial impact because it is so brief, averaging a duration of 30 microseconds, whereas other electrical or burn incidents become fatal because of prolonged exposure.
The danger of lightning is still not to be underestimated. Many complications can occur such as brain damage from electricity surging through the nervous system, or lung damage from the expanding of air due to heat (similarly to how thunder is created). Thunder is loud enough while being distant from the point of origin, so being AT that point, I imagine, is likely to result in hearing loss for at least some time afterwards. The shock can even cause a heart attack.
So while not entirely reasonable, the fear of lightning has roots deep within our culture and biology that are difficult to avoid. Though being struck by lightning will most likely affect your life, it’s not something that should control it. Knowing the facts about lightning will help to avoid being struck while also relieving any distressing myths.
Brian Dean is an editor and critic who studied Literature at Florida State University. “The Distance Formula” is an exploration of the equally expansive landscapes of the world and the mind.
Related Tags:WeatherWilderness
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