{"id":85299,"date":"2020-10-08T23:10:45","date_gmt":"2020-10-08T20:10:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/rare-weather-phenomenon-st-elmos-fire-spotted-from-military-plane\/"},"modified":"2020-10-08T23:10:45","modified_gmt":"2020-10-08T20:10:45","slug":"rare-weather-phenomenon-st-elmos-fire-spotted-from-military-plane","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/rare-weather-phenomenon-st-elmos-fire-spotted-from-military-plane\/","title":{"rendered":"#Rare weather phenomenon \u2018St. Elmo\u2019s Fire\u2019 spotted from military plane"},"content":{"rendered":"

“#Rare weather phenomenon \u2018St. Elmo\u2019s Fire\u2019 spotted from military plane<\/strong>”
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\n High in the skies during a recent nighttime flight near the equator, a military aircrew captured a rare weather phenomenon outside their window.<\/p>\n

The Royal Air Force\u2019s 99 Squadron released a video on Monday showing the phenomenon known as a \u201cSt. Elmo\u2019s Fire.\u201d<\/p>\n

The fork-shaped discharge of atmospheric electricity is not lightning but has a similar look.<\/p>\n

The RAF said the C-17 crew experienced it while flying through the Inter Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) at night.<\/p>\n

Video released<\/a> by the RAF on Twitter<\/a> shows the flashes of light as the aircraft flies in darkness.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe electrical weather phenomenon of St Elmo\u2019s Fire isn\u2019t dangerous, but it usually means you\u2019re surrounded by storms!\u201d the RAF tweeted.<\/p>\n

The ITCZ is the region that circles the Earth, near the equator, where the trade winds of the Northern and Southern Hemispheres come together.<\/p>\n

According to Encyclopedia Britannica, the phenomenon, also known as a corona discharge, is \u201ccommonly observed on the periphery of propellers and along the wingtips, windshield and nose of aircraft flying in dry snow, in ice crystals or near thunderstorms.\u201d<\/p>\n

When it app<\/a>ears in a strong electric field in the atmosphere, it\u2019s also commonly accompanied by a \u201ccracking or hissing noise.\u201d<\/p>\n

St. Elmo\u2019s Fire is typically seen during thunderstorms when the ground below the storm is electrically charged, and there is high voltage in the air between the cloud and the ground, according to Scientific American.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe voltage tears apart the air molecules and the gas begins to glow,\u201d electrical engineer William Beaty notes.<\/a><\/p>\n

While St. Elmo\u2019s Fire may not be dangerous to those on the ground, it does give a warning about potentially stormy weather ahead.<\/p>\n

Boaters may experience the phenomenon before a lightning strike since marine vessels are often the tallest objects in a large open space and can attract strikes.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe glow on a masthead produced by an extreme buildup of electrical charge is known as St. Elmo\u2019s Fire,\u201d the National Weather Service notes. \u201cUnprotected mariners should immediately move to shelter when this phenomenon occurs. Lightning may strike the mast within five minutes after it begins to glow.\u201d<\/p>\n

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This is what the office looks like to a @99Sqn<\/a> C-17 crew navigating their way through the ITCZ (Inter Tropical Convergence Zone) at night! The electrical weather phenomenon of St Elmo\u2019s Fire isn\u2019t dangerous, but it usually means you\u2019re surrounded by storms! \u26a1\ufe0f#99Sqn<\/a> #C17<\/a> #RAF<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/d1YrWUqMMR<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 99 Squadron RAF (@99Sqn) October 5, 2020<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div><\/div>\n