915
NOUS44 KSHV 241450
PNSSHV
ARZ050-051-059>061-070>073-LAZ001>006-010>014-017>022-OKZ077-
TXZ096-097-108>112-124>126-136>138-149>153-165>167-250115-
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SHREVEPORT LA
950 AM CDT TUE JUN 24 2008
...TUESDAY JUNE 24TH CONTINUES NATIONAL LIGHTNING SAFETY AWARENESS
WEEK WITH THE SCIENCE OF LIGHTING...
AT ANY GIVEN MOMENT THERE ARE 1800 THUNDERSTORMS IN PROGRESS
WORLDWIDE. ALTHOUGH SCIENTISTS KNOW THE CONDITIONS NEEDED TO
PRODUCE LIGHTNING...IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO FORECAST THE LOCATION OR
TIME OF THE NEXT STROKE OF LIGHTNING. EACH STROKE OF LIGHTNING
CAN REACH OVER FIVE MILE IN LENGTH...SOAR TO TEMPERATURES OF
APPROXIMATELY 50 THOUSAND DEGREES...AND CONTAIN 100 MILLION
ELECTRICAL VOLTS.
LIGHTNING IS MOST OFTEN SEEN IN THUNDERSTORMS. ICE IN A
THUNDERSTORM CLOUD IS A KEY ELEMENT IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF
LIGHTNING. THE RISING AND SINKING MOTIONS WITHIN THE STORM CAUSES
COLLISIONS BETWEEN ICE PARTICLES. THIS CAUSES A SEPARATION OF
ELECTRICAL CHARGES WHICH CREATES ENORMOUS CHARGE DIFFERENCES.
AS A THUNDERSTORM MOVES...IT GATHERS A POOL OF OPPOSITELY CHARGED
PARTICLES ALONG THE GROUND. THE DIFFERENCES IN CHARGES CAUSES THE
OPPOSITELY CHARGED PARTICLES TO COLLECT AT THE TOP OF TALLER OBJECTS
SUCH AS TREES...HOUSES...AND TELEPHONE POLES. THESE PARTICLES CAN
ALSO COLLECT AT THE TOP OF YOUR HEAD. IF YOU ARE NEAR A STORM AND
YOUR HAIR BEGINS TO STAND ON END...THIS IS A WARNING SIGN THAT YOU
MAY BE A TARGET OF LIGHTNING. IF THIS HAPPENS...LIE FLAT ON THE
GROUND AND SEEK SHELTER AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
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