Researchers have figured out how high-speed solar wind emanating from the sun can play a role in creating lightning strikes on Earth.
Researchers from University of Reading in England have determined rates across Europe increased up to 40 days around the arrival of high-speed solar winds, which are capable of traveling more than a million mph into the Earth's atmosphere, according to a recent press release.
Lightning strikes will likely be more frequent in the future, according to the study.
At one point experts thought that lightning on the surface of the Earth is triggered by cosmic rays. New evidence suggests that thunderstorms may be swayed by other energy particles.
"Our main result is that we have found evidence that high-speed solar wind streams can increase lightning rates. This may be an actual increase in lightning or an increase in the magnitude of lightning, lifting it above the detection threshold of measurement instruments." said lead author of the study, Chris Scott of University of Reading, in the press release.
The exact mechanism is not entirely known by researchers yet, though it is believed that electrical properties of the air alter incoming changed particles from the solar wing that create collision with the atmosphere.
"Cosmic rays, tiny particles from across the Universe accelerated to close to the speed of light by exploding stars, have been thought to play a part in thundery weather down on Earth, but our work provides new evidence that similar, if lower energy, particles created by our own Sun also affect lightning," Scott said.
Eventually they believe they'll be able to predict the severity of hazardous weather conditions, along with some assistance from monitors from space, according to the release.
Research was published in the journal Environmental Research Letters recently.
"As the Sun rotates every 27 days these high-speed streams of particles wash past our planet with predictable regularity. Such information could prove useful when producing long-range weather forecasts," Scott added.
See Now: OnePlus 6: How Different Will It Be From OnePlus 5?
