Lightning creates new compounds in the atmosphere
Lightning's intense energy triggers chemical reactions in the atmosphere, producing compounds like ozone and nitrogen oxides that shape air quality and even influenced early Earth's protective layer.
Lightning doesn't create new elements, but its intense energy sparks powerful chemical reactions in the air. When a lightning bolt strikes, it superheats the air to over 30,000 degrees Celsius, hotter than the sun's surface. This extreme heat breaks apart oxygen molecules, allowing them to recombine into ozone (O3), and forms nitrogen oxides.
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