Ball Lightning and Bead Lightning: Extreme Forms of Atmospheric Electricity

James Barry

Springer Science & Business Media, Sep 1, 1980 - Science - 298 pages

The purpose of this monograph is to review the known physical aspects of two unusual forms of atmospheric luminous phenomena, to deduce their characteristics and properties, and to promote efforts to improve their understanding. These two forms, called ball lightning and bead lightning, have visual images that differ from the linear image associated with normallightning. The terms "balliightning" and "bead lightning" are used to denote atmospheric luminous forms which are occasionally observed and have the geometrie shape suggested by their name. Vet, it is possible that neither phenomenon may in fact be a form of lightning in the sense of a continuous electrical discharge. Bead lightning has been described as the residue of a cloud-to cloud or cloud-to-ground lightning stroke and has the appearance of aseries of luminous balls separated by dark regions, thus resembling astring of pearls, and remains visible for about one second. Ball lightning has been described as a single luminous globe appearing ne ar the ground after a lightning stroke and also remaining visible for about one second. Both phenomena remain visible far longer than normal lightning flashes.

What people are saying

User Review -

I did not read this book, but saw a stream of light come through the window that was closed. It came sideways into the room, stopped, formed into a ball about the size of a basketball of swirling cream color like blowing smoke into a jar and the smoke swirling around. It hovered in the middle of the air! There was no sound. It then proceeded to explode into many different sized balls. Then the different sized balls came back into a main ball again. It then, went back into a stream of light and went out the same window that it came in!! Whatever that was, it knew what it was doing by the way it acted. At the time, I did not know what ball lighting was. It happened very fast, I will never forget it. Amazing!!!! 

Contents

• Introduction: 1
• 12 Existence of Bead Lightning and Ball Lightning: 3
• Bead Lightning: 11
• 22 Bead Lightning Photographs: 12
• 23 Bead Lightning Origins: 28
• Ball Lightning: 33
• 32 Observed Properties: 35
• Deduced Characteristics of Ball Lightning: 45
• 42 Energy Density: 46
• 43 Energy Interpretations: 64
• 44 Temperature: 70
• 45 Radiation: 73
• 46 Magnetic Field: 75
• 47 Inferences: 76
• Ball Lightning Photographs: 79
• 52 Classes of Photographs: 80
• Multiple Path: 85
• Lightning Channel Decay: 91
• Pyrotechnic Appearance: 100
• Stationary Image: 105
• Uninterrupted Singular Trace: 109
• Natural Discharges: 118
• Artificial Phenomena: 122
• 53 Unavailable Photographs: 130
• Skepticism: 133
• 62 Optical Illusions: 136
• 63 Perceptual Effects: 138
• 64 Summary and Erroneous Identifications: 139
• Laboratory Ball Lightning: 147
• Use of Natural Lightning: 149
• Gaseous Electrical Discharge: 157
• Metallic Vapor: 176
• Electrodeless Discharges: 180
• 76 Summary and Reflections: 194
• Bibliography: 203
• 82 Ball Lightning Bead Lightning and Related References: 204
• Index: 293

Bibliographic information

• Title: Ball Lightning and Bead Lightning: Extreme Forms of Atmospheric Electricity; Extreme Forms of Atmospheric Electricity
• Author: James Barry
• Edition: illustrated
• Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media, 1980
• ISBN: 0306402726, 9780306402722
• Length: 298 pages
• Subjects: Science / Earth Sciences / General; Science / Earth Sciences / Meteorology & Climatology