This is often oversimplified as positive charges at the upper reaches and negative at the base, Fig 3. Lightning takes place when the positive and negative charge has a voltage difference of about 300,000 volts per foot. Lightning strikes at the speed of light. It may contain up to 200,000 amps of current. With instant air temperature peaks of 50,000°F along the discharge channel, it is hotter than the sun’s surface temperature. The ambient air is exploded into a sonic boom called thunder. There are three lightning routes: cloud to ground, between the clouds and within the cloud. Most lightning strikes take place within the clouds or between the clouds where aircraft are defenseless targets.
Fig3 Charge Separation
2.3.3 Downburst Downburst refers to air coming down from a shower or a thunderstorm, hitting the ground, and spreading out. The violent downburst outflow is typically contained within a 3-mile diameter, although velocities beneath thunderstorms have been measured to travel 18 miles in advance of the thunderstorm itself.
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