Every year, No Smoking Day serves as a powerful reminder of the dangers of tobacco and the strength it takes to quit. Celebrated on the second Wednesday of March, this day encourages people worldwide to make the life-changing decision to stop smoking. Whether you're a long-time smoker or someone supporting a loved one, No Smoking Day is about awareness, compassion, and commitment. 🧠 The Purpose Behind No Smoking Day No Smoking Day began in the UK in 1984 and has since spread globally as a symbol of hope and recovery. The aim is clear: to raise public awareness about the health risks of smoking , offer support to quit smoking , and promote smoke-free lifestyles . Tobacco use remains one of the leading causes of preventable deaths globally. According to the WHO, more than 8 million people die each year due to tobacco-related illnesses . No Smoking Day challenges this stark reality by offering a beacon of change. On this day, governments, health organizations, and individuals ...
When we think of lightning, we often picture a jagged bolt of bright white or yellow electricity. But did you know that there’s such a thing as red lightning? Let’s delve into this fascinating atmospheric phenomenon and understand why we have red lightning alerts.
What is Red Lightning?
Red lightning, also known as sprites, is an electrical discharge that appears as a burst of red light above the clouds during a thunderstorm. Unlike regular lightning that we see from the ground, red lightning occurs in the upper atmosphere.
Sprites are usually red in color and can range in shape between a jellyfish and a carrot. Compared to an ordinary flash of lightning, they can be huge in size, often as much as 30 miles (48 km) across. However, because they occur high above the cloud layer and only last for a millisecond or so, red lightning is difficult to observe and study.
How Does Red Lightning Form?
Red lightning is a form of electrical discharge in the upper atmosphere associated with thunderstorms. A wide electric field that gets generated by several lightning strokes ionizes the air high on top of the cloud. This then emits that light you can see in photos.
Red lightning is associated with the positive lightning strokes that take place once the cloud has a positive charge build up and releases a lightning bolt. Negative strokes formed by a negative charge buildup are around 10 times more common. This is why red lightning is not strongly related to the most common type of lightning but it is not that uncommon either.
Why Do We Have Red Lightning Alerts?
Red lightning alerts are issued as a safety measure during severe weather conditions and the presence of lightning strikes. These alerts primarily prioritize the safety of people on the ground, which is of paramount importance for airport operators.
During a Red Lightning Alert, flight and ground operations at airports are temporarily suspended. This alert is raised if intense lightning activity is within 9 kilometers of an airport. The alert is a safety measure taken to prevent untoward incidents from happening when lightning is prevalent in the immediate area and may endanger personnel, passengers, and even flight operations.
In conclusion, red lightning is a fascinating yet elusive atmospheric phenomenon. While it’s not as commonly observed as regular lightning, its existence adds another layer to our understanding of atmospheric science. And as for red lightning alerts, they serve as an essential safety measure to protect people during severe weather conditions.
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