“The Lightning Tongue of the Thunder God” never strikes laurel trees and rarely hits chestnut, maple, or birch trees, while it often targets banyan and massive oak trees. Interestingly, lightning does not exclusively strike tall trees. So, which targets does the Thunder God “take issue with”?
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(Photo: 5pointpower) |
Not only the height of the tree but also the soil composition and root structure affect lightning’s selection. Among woody plants, lightning tends to strike those with numerous and deep roots, which means they have relatively lower electrical resistance, such as banyan and oak trees. Additionally, lightning strikes plants that conduct electricity well, which are those with high water content.
Lightning never travels in a straight line. The path of lightning is winding because it must choose the route with the least electrical resistance, meaning it travels through areas with the highest concentration of conductive particles.
Lightning can strike an active chimney, even when there is a lightning rod nearby. This happens because smoke is a good conductor of electricity. The rising smoke can divert the lightning that is heading toward the lightning rod. Hot air has a similar effect. Lightning can also strike an airplane in flight if the aircraft releases smoke near a charged cloud. When it strikes a stack of plates, lightning is “selective,” breaking only the wettest ones rather than shattering them all.
The Thunder God also tends to choose specific locations to strike. This depends on the conductivity of the soil layers. For example, clay areas often conduct electricity better than sandy soil, making them more likely targets for lightning. Soil with abundant groundwater and flowing sand (alluvial) beneath is also an attractive target for lightning. Often, lightning strikes in canyons or deep ravines because these places tend to have a high concentration of moisture or water sources at their bottoms.
When lightning strikes a person or an animal, it is usually life-threatening. However, if it only hits a branch of the lightning, the individual may only suffer burns without fatal consequences.
