We are familiar with lightning during a thunderstorm. Many of us love the way electricity dances in the sky and the patterns it makes. Sometimes, it terrifies us but still, it's an amazing experience, especially if you are up in the mountains.
Volcanic eruption, on the other hand, is not so welcome sight. It terrifies us, especially if it occurs at an inhabited place. Only from afar, it looks awe-inspiring. Though its fatality rate is way higher. But, that's not what we are discussing today.
Imagine what would happen if we combine both volcanic eruptions and lightning? Some of you would think that it's just a fantasy and not possible in reality. But, mother nature has so many tricks up her sleeves that she never fails to amaze us.
Volcanic lightning is a real thing and there have been around 200 volcanic lightning eruptions that have been documented over the last two centuries. The reason behind volcanic lightning is somewhat similar to lightning during a thunderstorm but it has its differences.
The science behind volcanic lightning
The basic process behind it is that during a volcanic eruption, smaller particles of ash (a few times ice) collide with each other to produce ions (charge carriers) that produce static electricity.
Some mechanisms can explain the charging of particles.
The first one is Ice charging: The water (from magma/ surroundings) present in the volcanic plumes is present in the vaporized state at the start. That condenses to liquid as it rises in the column and finally freezes. These ice crystals are effective charge carriers.
Frictional charging is the most common mechanism for electrical charging. When ash, rock fragments, and ice collide with each other in a volcanic plume, static charges are produced and cause an electrical breakdown.
Eruptions that have longer height gain electricity mainly via Ice charging as it is more favorable. While shorter plumes depend mainly upon facto mission (charge formed due to breakdown of rock particles). As the charges form, they create static electricity that then leads to lightning.
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