How Lightning Cleans Our Air: A Science Overview

‘Lightning is awesome. A single lightning bolt can unleash up to one billion volts and tens of thousands of amps. It travels at about 270,000 mph. In only a few millionths of a second, it reaches 30,000C, which is hotter than the surface of the sun.

Apart from the drama, lightning also performs a cleaning service. It helps to get rid of air pollution by creating powerful oxidising cleansers called hydroxyl (OH). It also produces hydroperoxyl (HO2). These oxidants break down greenhouse gases such as methane, dissolving them in water and depositing them in rain…’

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