How Does Lightning Form and What Does a Lightning Rod Do?

The sun heats the air on the earth’s surface, causing it to rise and simultaneously transporting evaporating water upwards. When water vapor rises to about 2-3 km, it encounters cold air layers, turns into clouds, and can reach heights of approximately 20,000 meters under the influence of air currents. Meanwhile, the static electrical energy formed in the cloud accumulates in layers of positive and negative charges. Lightning occurs when this energy load in the cloud descends to the ground at a speed of up to 1000 km per hour and with a temperature stated to be 30,000 degrees. During the lightning strike, a high-conductivity corridor is formed at the point where the discharge moving from the ground towards the cloud meets the current coming from above; this situation has the property of damaging living things and property at that point and in the surrounding specific area. Lightning is entirely an electrical ionization event and is created by Cumulus clouds. Within the scope of the principle of negative poles attracting each other, they are categorized as positive downward and negative downward. 70% of lightning impulses go from the ground to the cloud, while 30% fall from the cloud to the ground. The ionization property of lightning also answers the question of what a lightning rod (paratoner) does. A lightning rod is a protection element that provides ionization and ensures the attraction of lightning by emitting ions. However, if it is a low-quality head, it may emit ions and attract clouds but fail to catch the lightning. Instead of ion-emitting systems like the active lightning rod system, using PASSIVE Air Terminals is the more correct solution. We are in favor of using systems that engage when lightning is about to fall, rather than attracting it.

WHAT DOES A LIGHTNING ROD DO AND IS IT RIGHT TO USE IT?

Another question asked in parallel with the question What does a lightning rod do is whether it is right to use a lightning rod (active system). As we summarized above, the active lightning rod is a system that attracts the impulse by emitting ions. As Yılkomer, we are in favor of using passive air terminals within the scope of the IEC 62305 Standard, or in classical terms, the Faraday Cage. We find systems designed with tripod systems and insulated down conductors to be more reliable.

You can always contact Yılkomer engineers regarding system design, project planning, reporting, and application.