Nice detail in this high-speed photo. Here is what you are seeing. First you see several leaders reaching for the ground: these are connected to the cloud via a plasma channel and are at a high voltage -- since they are sharply tipped, there is a strong electric field which causes the air to break down, so the plasma channels can lengthen. Once one plasma channel hits the ground, a lot of current comes through and you see a big flash. The voltage drops rapidly in the area of the cloud where the plasma channel came from -- that attracts new plasma channels up in the cloud that recharge the main channel, causing the secondary flashes.

WOOOOOOOOOOOW!!! that was awesome!!!

WOW that is crazy cool man :D

Stunning! Am wondering what is the total elapsed time

Easily one of the coolest uses for slo-mo ever.

WTF! That was the most incredible thing I have ever seen.

Interesting!

awesome

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