2. What Is Lightning Lightning is a beautiful display in nature but also one of the most deadly. The temperature of a lightning bolt is hotter than the surface of the sun.

3. How Is Lightning Formed Lightning is an electrical discharge from the clouds to the ground. When particles in the clouds rub against each other, the charges in the cloud are polarised, that is, the positive and negative charges moves to opposite sides of the cloud. The negative charges are attracted to the positive charges in the ground. Lightning occurs when positive and negative charges join together. They can have up to one billion volts of electricity.

4. How Destructive Is Lightning Lightning damages the tallest thing close to the cloud. It can destroy trees, start fires, damage buildings and even kill people. Most tall buildings have lightning rods on top with wires leading to the ground that protects them. Lightning can have up to one billion volts of electricity. Never stand under a tall tree during a storm.

5. Where Is Lightning Common This diagram shows where and how often lightning occurs around the world. The yellow and red shows where lightning is very common and the white and blue is where there is less lightning. Most lightning storms occur around the equator.

6. Lightning Safety The best way to be safe in a lightning storm is to be in a car or building. If you are in a building it would be best to have wiring and plumbing throughout it. If the building has a lightning rod you should be safe. This house has a lightning rod with a copper wire leading to the ground.

7. Real Examples Of Lightning Storms October 2009 – a lightning storm in south-east Queensland blacked out about 22,000 homes and businesses. Power lines fell on rail way lines and flights at the Brisbane airport were delayed.

8. Real Examples Of Lightning Storms March 2010 – the biggest storm in 15 years struck Perth. There were widespread damage caused by flash flooding, hail stones as big as golf balls and strong wind gusts up to 75 mph. Lightning strikes and thunderstorms took out power to 20000 homes.

9. Bibliography www.phy.cuhk.edu.hk/phyworld/iq/lightning/lightning_e. html www.phy.cuhk.edu.hk/phyworld/iq/lightning/lightning_e. html www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2008/20080623_lightnin g.html www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2008/20080623_lightnin g.html http://science.howstuffworks.com/lightning.htm http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/10/27/2725028.h tm http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/10/27/2725028.h tm http://www.accuweather.com/blogs/news/story/26535/bat tering-hail-pelting-rain-ri.asp http://www.accuweather.com/blogs/news/story/26535/bat tering-hail-pelting-rain-ri.asp http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/without-power-as- storms-hit-mid-west-great-southern/story-e6frg12c- 1225844121008 http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/without-power-as- storms-hit-mid-west-great-southern/story-e6frg12c- 1225844121008