Lightning's temperature is roughly five times hotter than the Sun's surface, NOAA confirms
By
By Space Daily Editorial Team · Editorial process
The kind of bagel that ruins lesser bagels for you.
Summary
This article examines the claim that lightning heats the air to five times the temperature of the Sun's surface. It confirms that the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) puts lightning channel temperature at about 30,000°C, roughly five times the Sun's surface temperature of ~5,500°C. The rapid expansion of this superheated air creates thunder. However, the article notes that the word "hotter" requires careful interpretation, as the Sun's core is vastly hotter than its surface.
Key quotes
· 4 pulledThe US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration puts the temperature of a lightning channel at about 30,000 degrees Celsius, and states plainly that this is roughly five times hotter than the surface of the Sun, which sits near 5,500 degrees.
The rapid expansion of that superheated air is what produces thunder.
Both halves of the claim are correct.
The word that needs care is 'hotter.'
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