Catatumbo lightning

The Catatumbo thunderstorm (Spanish Relámpago del Catatumbo ) is a weather phenomenon that occur during 140 to 160 nights a year near the mouth of the Río Catatumbo ( hence the name ) in the Lake Maracaibo in Venezuela. Here come lightning storm rich with great regularity over and over again on the same field.

Myths and their explanation

These thunderstorms are usually highly visible and can easily be observed, therefore, even from a distance. This apparently led to some myths, but they are mainly attributable to the great distance of the observer.

So to be almost silent the event. In truth, very well produced thunder, but which is no longer heard because of the great distance (see heat lightning ). Also, often described yellow to orange color of the flashes of the distance the observer is attributable, as the sunset as short-wavelength light is scattered in the atmosphere between the storm and the observer. Violet and blue are thus filtered out. In addition to almost exclusively clouds flashes occur. Again, this is not right. Rather, the storm, the observer sees in the profile, which favors the view of the clouds lightning; also look into the bottom of the thunderclouds is often obstructed.

Another myth is that the accumulation of the storm is related to the leakage of methane gas in swamps and bogs on Lake Maracaibo. However, this is unlikely. Rather prevail in the area particularly frequent and regular meteorological conditions that favor long-lasting and rich night lightning storm. If these are the conditions that may lead to longer breaks. Thus resulted a drought in early 2010 to a long break.