dear du weather people .

[AllaN01Bear]

i have been watching a lot of lighting storm videos lately. i know that there are several kinds of lighting including upward (positive ) and downward ( negative ) lighting. as in all electrical circuts , is there a return path. i was watching a video where a lighting scientist was talking about lightning to cccp students and they mentioned a return path. a puzzzle ment for me . thanks .

[texasfiddler]

1. The build-up of the charge was the other (return part) of the circuit.

The discharge completes the other half. It just takes time.

[AllaN01Bear]

2. thanks for ur information.

[texasfiddler]

3. I am not a weather professional.

I am an electrical engineer and I install lightning protection systems per NFPA 780. A lot of terms get used like leader step, streamer, and return stroke. It all basically describes the process of development of an electric field and potential difference between clouds and cloud/ground, ionization of air, and discharge. I compare the complete circuit like the charging of a capacitor over time (evaporation, storm cloud formation). I see the leader step like a screwdriver placed across the capacitor (ionization/dielectric breakdown of air leader step) and the return stroke as the current discharge through the screw driver.

[AllaN01Bear]

4. i have studied electricity for years and wondered about that. i am also ham and cb er

and just ate up ham theory. be safe out there please . finger of former electrical/ electronic experimenter . dont take lightly the lightings . one thing that throuout my studies that has stuck in my head is a saying by tesla, that the earth is a giant capaciter. have a grand day