ORNL- 393 8

PREZIMIMARY REPORT ON BALL LIGHTNING

J . Rand McXally, J r .

MAY 1966

OAK

o p e r a t e d by UNION CAHETDE CORPORATION for the

RIDGE NATIONAL LABOIWTORY Oak Ridge, Tennessee

J. Rand McNall.y, Jr. Oak Ridge PJat;ional L a b o r a t o r p

T h i s r e p o r t i s an e x t e n s i o n o f remr.ks made i n

prepared about !)r.cem'oer, 1960 =

(e.g.,

forces, e t c . ) and perhaps erroneous i n ot'ners,

agencies.

the p o s s i b l e r o l e s of a c t i v e ni.i;rogen and of s e l f - b i n d i n g plasma

Though out3 of d a t e i n s e v e r a l r?spec'ts

l96cJ pa-pe'l and was

+;he o r i g i n a l unpublished

report i s s t i l l b e i n g r e q u e s t e d by i n d i v i d u a l s c i e n t i s t s and r e f e r e n c e
The report, wt-th minor. changes, i s riow (March, 1 . 9 % ) being

placed i n o f f i c i a l documentation channels t o make i t more r c a i t i l y available

t o interes-Led sources.
" B a l l l i g h t n i n g i s a possible

The following abst,raet sccoripanied t h e oral paper:

Stiz'Ole

plasma corifiguratioil and herlee m y

> , 1L.

m e r i t some c o n s i d e r a t i o n i n t h e f i e l d of i;l-iernionilclea,r research.

made w i t h 498 r e p o r t s of u.nusua1 l i g h t n i n g phenoniena which -the observers

o f 1.5,923 Union Carbide Nuclear Company p e r s o n n e l in Oak Ridge: has been

A s-u-vey

thought rnay have been r e l a t e d t o b a l l l i g h t n i n g .

Lhe survey will be presented."

Some of the r e s u l t s 05'

*Research sponsored by the U.S. A t o m i c Energy Commission under c0ntrac.t; w i t h Union Carbide Corporation.

' B a l l

' P . L. Kapitza, Proc. Acad. Sei. USSR 101, 2 4 ! 1 (1945); V. D. ghafranov, J. E x p t l . Theor. Phys. 33, '110 (1957), translatefl in Soviet Physics - JETP 5,
202 (1961).

Lightni-ng - A Swvey, Proc. Second Annual Meeting Div. Plasma Physics, 202 ( 1 . 9 6 1 ) . Gatliriburg, Tenn., Nov. 2 - 5 (1960). See B u l l . Ani. Ph.ys. SOC.

5,

P'KELIMLNARY I I ...-. .^ RFlPORT - ON BALL LTGIITNTNGx

I

J. Rand IvIcNally, Jr Oak Ridge National Laboratory Oak Ridge, Tennessec DTRODUCTJON

t i m e s l e a d s t o new b a s i c concepts a f f e c t i - n g iiriportaiit a r e a s o f physical.

research. Thus, i.t, i s p o s s i b l e t h a t
a 1 1 admixture

The s h d y of r a r e and c o n t r o v e r s i a l events i n n a t u r a l phenomena. someo f i-deas g1.eani.d from

b a l l l i g h t n i n g o b s e r v a t i o n s and from t h e f i e l d o f pla,sma physics may be

rnutually reward in^,

have ever seen a fi-re-ball"' unusual plasma

01'

t h a t no p r o f e s s i o n a l observers of t h e wea.ther, such a s meteorologisis,

The f a c t t h a t an event i s ra.re a r i d t h a t "It appears

does riot de'ii.act from t h e unusual c h a r a c t e r

of t h e many l i t e r a t u r e repo:rts, wihich i n d i c a t e t h e e x i s t e n c e o f extremely

gas discharge p r o p e r t i e s .

a s a p o s s i b l e s t a b l e pJ-asnia c o n f i g u r a t i o n , i s r e 2 Except c e i v i n g i n c r e a s i n g emphasis i n r e s e a r c h e s p e c i a l l y i n t h e USSR.

" B a l l l.ightning",

p o s s i b l y f o r the c o n t r o v e r s i a L Cougnard d e i o n i z u r t i c a l . a p p l i c a t i o n seems t o have been developed.

, designed

t o mini-mize

ball. l i g h t n i n g damage t o high vol'iage transmj-ssion l i . n e equipment, no prac-

It i s e n t i r e l y p o s s i b l e t h a t t h e r e may be several. d i f f e r e n t p h y s i c a l
forms of " b a l l l i g h t n i n g " , each exhihi.ting i t s own c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s e t o f properties. r e p o r t e d c a s e s are u s u a l l y i n t e r p r e t e d as orit. of' several. t y p e s or atmos p h e r i c type discharges.

The phenomena a r e d e f i n i t e l y i.n t h e rare event c a t e g o r y and

P r e s e n t e d i n p a r t a i the Second Annua.1 Meeting o f t h e D i v i s i o n o f Plasma Physics of t h e American P h y s i c a l Society, Gatlinburg, Tennessee, November 2 - 5 , 1960, P a p r J-1s.
F. J . Schonland, The b'light o f Thunderbolts, __. Oxford a t t h e Clarendon P r e s s , p. 51 (1950).
J . R i t c h i e , M i s s i l e s and Rockets, August 24, 1959.

' B .

' 1 ) .

' H . N . Ekvall, Elec1,rica.l World, p. 85, March 1 1 , 1957.

-3-

The air-borne,

bouncing, spinning, o r r o l l i n g variet,i.es o f f i r e - b a l l s

rec* uu

which e i t h e r radiate and decay slc-wly, o r d i s a p p e s r e x p l o s i v e l y stored i n the fire-ball

lt i n g

in c o n s i d e r a b l e h e a t i n g o r damage, s ~ g g e s tthat; s i g n i f i c a n t energy i s

p o s s i b l y megajou-les.

4,s

by b a l l 1.igh.t;ning has been repor.ted6 o r suggested.

C arboriiz ing of himans

b a l l lFghf;ning are not known i n d e t a i l .

The character is-Lies o f ' t h e l i g h t n i n g b o l t s which a,pparen.tly p r o d u c e

t i a l d i f f e r e n c e s , and up t o about 20 kiloriiegajoules.

r-

s t r o k e s may involve up to 164 couI.ombs, ulj to sev-era1 kilomegavol.tspoten-

In geaeral, however, l i y ' n t n i n g

Most curren'c s t r o k e s

50,000 volts/crn and probably l e s s t h a n 10,000 volts/cm f o r moist air.

are l e s s t h a n 10" amperes b u t have been r e p o r t e d , on yare occasions, t o 5 , 1 3 exceed 2 x I O 3 amperes. The breakdown p o t e n t i a l of d r y a i r i s about

been made t o e x p l a i n the nature o f b a l l l i g h t 9 lo nirig i n terms of chemical. dissociat,ion arid i.oni.zation phenomena. Kapitza Various a t t e m p t s
kiiLve

oppo:ses s u c h hypotheses on t h e grounds of i n s u f f i c i e n t energy s t o r a g e by t h i s means.

a miclear f i r e - b a l l .

for a 10 cui diameter f i r e - b a l l by comparison w i t h t h e decay p r o p e r t i e s of

The s t o r e d energy of a f u l l y clissoc:i.ated. arid once

He also estimates t h e decay time t o be o f o l d e r 0 . 0 1 seconds

4 L. Tonks, Nature 187 2 . 9 1 5 (1960) es-Limates 0.36 megajoul.es t o t a l radiat i o n f o r a p a r t i c u h r i d e a l i z e d case (10 ern diarneter).

. r I

6 1 4 . C e r r i l l o (1944), t r a n s l a t i o n a v a i l a b l e , R. Hines and. P. A. S i l b e r g , Advanced Development Laboratory, Raytheon Coripany, Wayland, Massachusetts

1 megaB o L. Goodlet, J . I n s t . Elect. Eng. 8 1 1 (1957) e s t i m s t e s 1 t o 1 j o u l e s f o r a n actual fire-ball the s i z e of which w.s r e p o r t e d t o be t h a t of' a, large orange.

7C. Benedicks, Arkiv. P. Geofysik

2,

1 (1951).

' W .

W. Lewis, P r o t e c t i o n of Transmission Systems Against Lightning, John Wiley S: Sons, Inc., N . Y. (1950).
I

' S e e rcview by E. L. H i l l , J. (kophys. Mag. 65, 1947 ( 1 9 6 0 ) .

"5'. L. Kapitza, Proc. Acad. Sei. USSR -3 1 0 1 245 (1955); Physikalische Blatter 1 (1958).

-4 -

i o n i z e d cubic centimeter of a i r i s about 160 energy requirements. s-tored energy.

joule^.^

T h i s i s l e s s than

t h e estimaates of 'ionks (- '700 joules) and Goodl.et (- 16,000 j o u l e s ) for filul.tip1.e i o n i z a t i o n would account f o r a d d i t i o n a l
1.

There are c e r t a i n b a s i c quest<-oris t o b e ansuered:

Is t h e energy
2.

of t h e f i r e - b a l l fed conti-nuous1.y by t h e external. atmospheric fi.el.ds?

3.

Does t h e f i r e - b a l l e x i s t i n i t i a l l y w i t h t h i s l a r g e amount of s'iorzd energy? entities?

Is it p o s s i b l e that both of these two types of fire-ba1.l.s a r e d . i s t i n c 6

mi.ght be s a t i s f a c t o r i l y explained..

f i r e - b a l l would be expected t o be low b u t t h e long-livedness of t h e system

I f t h e answer t o question ( 2 . ) i.s yes,

I f tine answer t o (1.) i s yes, t h e actual. s t o r e d energy of t h e

a tremendous amount of s t o r e d energy must be confined for a long t i m w i t h An ana,logy to the L a t t e r might be s spinning p r o p e l l e r which suddeiily en-

o u ! , expl-osion yet, on occasion, permit r a p i d r e l e a s e o f t h e stored energy.

c o u n t e r s an o b s t a c l e r e s u l t i n g i n t h e s t o r e d energy o f ordered motion being spontaneously r e l e a s e d as hest, sound, e t c . 7 10 C e r r i l l o and more r e c e n t l y Kapitza proposed a model i n which e l e c troma,gnetic energy i s f e d . t o t h e b a l l . or k u g e l b l f t z from a n e x t e r n a l atirios p h e r i c source g e n e r a t i n g v e r y i n t e n s e , high frequency standing e l e c t r o -

m.gneti.c waves which a r e absorbed in t h e plasma.

This expl.anation seems

which energy e x t c r n s l to -the phenomeiioi-1 i s d i s s i p a i e d a t ihe brads as a

t o d e s c r i b e a p p r o p r i a t e l y t h e beadmi, c h a h , or " r o s a r y k u g e l h l i t z " i n

r e s u l t of s t a n d i n g wave i n t e r f e r e n c e e f f e c t s , although t h e "sausag? i n s i a -

b i l - i t y " may c o n t r i b u t e t o t h e g e n e r a t i o n of such nhenomena. Watson'' and 4 Tonks p o i n t o u t t h a t t h e f i r e - b a l l should. l i e aL the e l e c i r i c node cont r a r y t o Kapi-tza's suggestion t h a t t h e el-ectromagnetic energy would be d i s s i p a t e d . a t t h e anti-nodes. theory.

t h e t h e o r y o f Kapitza whercss Yonks poses s e v e r a l d i f f i c u l t i e s f o r t h e

Watson a l s o p r e s e n t s arguments supporting

12 Silberg has a l s o cont;rj.bu.ted- t o t h e s t a n d i n g wave theory.

449 ( 1 1 3 6 0 ) .

'h.

_x

K. H. Watson, N a t u r r3 '185

"P. A . Si.l.herg, Mass

Advanced Development Tahoratory, Raytheon Company, Wayland,

of t h e e x t e r n a l atmosphere.

it i n c l u d e s a c i r c u l a r o r r i n g c u r r e n t i n e q u i l i b r i u m w i t h t h e p r e s s u r e 13
Shafranov'

Another p o s s i b l e i n t e r p r e t a t i o n of' a. ball l i g h t n i n g type m y be t h a t

proposed. s u c h a t h e o r y f o r r i n g

(presumably e l e c t r o n ) c u r r e n t pinches i.n s t a b l e e q u i l i b r i u m c o n f i g u r a t i o n s

lightning), o r ( c ) an e x t e r n a l magnetic f i e l d .

d e f i n e d by (a) a g r a v i t a t i o n a l f i e l d , (b) an e x t e r n a l gas p r e s s u r e ( b a l l

p l a s m i n v o l v i n g an i o n c u r r e n t :ring i n equili.briwn i n only a m i r r o r magconcept o f p:Lasrra r i n g s i n connection . w i t h r'col.ierent" a c c e l e r a t o r work. motion i n t h e l i g h t n i n g b i x l l by (a) k i n k i n s t a b i l i t y of a ligh-Lnirlg d i s The

A model for a . thermonuclear

n e t l c field has also been suggested. l4 Veksleu"

has a l s o d i s c u s s e d t h e

Earlier, Kolobkov"

d i s c u s s e d meclianisms for producing s u c h a r o t a t i o n a l

charge o r ( b ) near crossirig of' two c u r r e n t d i s c h a r g e s i.n oppos.i.te d i r e c t i o n s .

#a

f i e l d a s s o c i a t e d w i t h a rflagnetie compression of' plasm, r e s u l t i n g

0

from t h e -tremendous

inducing such ring cur'ren1;s.

I of a iightn'ing b o l t may be ario.ttier

1.7

Incch~iIlisnlf o r

It i s ,

of course, possi'ole t h a t g e n e r a t i o n of a f i r e - b a l l 'by- K q i . t z a ' s

Thus, t h e wavelength of the e1eci;romagnetic v i (3.

model might result i n a stable corifigurakion p o s s e s s i n g an i n l i e r e n t l y large sphere a of' diameter b r a t i o n s required. by I i a p i t z a t o develop a, p l ~ ~ x n amount o f stored energy.
=

is

rent, can be

3 . 65 d whereas t h e "d.e Rroglie wa-veleng-Lh" a s s o c i a t e d w i t i n a riIig c u r -

),'

= 3.14 d ' ,

where d ' i s t h e ring d i , m e t e r .

''11.

D. Shafranov, J. Exptl. Theoret. Phys. 33, '710 (19571, t m n s l a t i o r i i.n Sovi.et Pi-iysics JETP 6, 545, 1958.

14J-. R. McNally, Jr., unpublished n i a t e r i a l (Dec., 1957); "On -the Energy Dependence of the DCX Type of Sherwood Device'!, uripublished (Aug., 1958) ; "The Direcl; Current Experjment (UCX) arid High Teniperature Measurements i n t h e Carbon Arc", paper i n O p t i c a l S p e c t r o m e t r i c &kasu.rermxits of' fiigh Terriperntures, U n i v e r s i t y of Chicago, U n i v e r s i t y o f Chicago P r e s s (1961).

1 . 6 . V. Kolobkov, Atmosphe15c E l e c t r i c i t y , p. 47-50 (1951). N.

1 5 P r i v a t e conlrnunication t o J . Neufeld by V . I. .Veksler d u r i n g h i s v i s i t t o Oak. Ridge Ma-Lional La'boratory-, NOT. 16, 1959.

I 6 1. Dazey, and R. E'. Wuerker, STL ReSee, for example, V. Josephson, & p o r t TH-60-0000-L9258(1960) for Br compressi.on experiment l e a d i n g t o a i; ring current.

-6-

l i g h t n i n g f o r p h y s i c a l p r o p e r t i e s .related to a, plasma o r thermoniJ.clear

,l n e r e appear t h e n t o be v a l i d reasons f o r su.rvil.yi.ng t h e f i . e l d of b a l l .

11

ranov ' s model..

system i n a s t a t i c or even dynamic type of eq1~il.ibri.manalogous t o S h a f -

SURVLYS

Brand,

1 . 8

20 i h ~ n p h r e y s ,and ~ ~ Rodewald have c o l l e c t e d numerous accounts

of bal.1 light,iiing 1:eports and. attempted t o eval.irate them. confidence i n t h e i r v a l u e .

Brand b e l i e v e d

2 3 . 5 of 600 accounts t o be d e t a i l e d enough t o i n s u r e a c e r t a i n degree of

i s quite excellent.

none of t h e s e were a u t h e n t i c i r e - b a l l s .

Hurnphreys exami.ned 280 accounts and concI.uded t h a t

Brand's s m r ~ r y ,a v a i l a b l e i n C-oodJlet s a r t i c l e , Rodewald d i s c u s s e s about 15 c a s e s .

A t o t a l of 110 i n d i v i d -

A p r e l i m i n a r y survey i n t h e form o f a q u e s t i o n n a i r e w a s made o f Oak

Ridge National. Laboratory monthly r o l e personnel..

u a l s r e p o r t e d observations on "ball. l.i.ghtning" f o r R r e t u - n o f 5 . 6 per c e n i o b s e r v a t i o n s from a s t a i i s t i c a l sample o f 1962 gzople.

j~n a

The complete

survey o f all Union Carbide n'ucI.ear Compny personnel i n Oak Ridge r e s u l t e d grand total. of 513 r e p o r t s from a s t a t i s t i c a l sangle of 15,923 i n d i The dj..fference i n t h e s e pcrcentages i s proba.bly si.gnifi.-

v i d u a l s (3.1%) .

cant b u t no expl.anation i s proposed, a1.though it may be associa'ied with

'die wider geographical background of ~ ' Z L C ~ monlh1.y role OHlJL sample. Tsb2.e T i.s a, copy of t h e q u e s t i o n n a i r e d i s t r i b u t e d in t h e survey.

made.

Tables 11-XI l i s t somc o f t h e yesults. comments.

No c r o s s - c o r r e l a t i o n s h s v e been

Table XI1 l i s t s some of t h e more human i n - t e r e s t suggestions and

'l'able XI11 grives some o f .the actual. observati-ons.

tained.

questions o f f e r s t h e p o s s i b i l i t y of pyschoiogical bi.as i n t h e results ob-

I t shou1.d be r e a l i z e d that t h e i n c l u s i o n of l e a d i n g , m u l t i p l e choice

v i d u a l s i t would be q u i t e d i f f i c u l t tc ob-Lainc o m p l e i z l y unbiased. responses

. . . . _ . I

However, it should al.so be r e a l - i z e d t h a t i n sampling 1 5 , 9 2 3 i n d i -

7.n any t e s t i n g where physri.ol.ogica.1 and psychological responses a r e involved.

'%.
19-.
W.

Brand, "Der Kugel.bI.ltz", H a b u r g (132.3)

20

J . Humphyeys, Proc. Am. P h i l . Soc. 76, 613 (1936).

M. ~ o d e w a ~ Z., Me t e r o l o g i e

E,

2 7 (1954) .

-7 -

a l l y occur as .the result of l i g h t n i n g d i s c h a r g e ; ( 2 ) o r i g i n a t e randomly

(3) a r e f r e q u e n t l y a i r - b o r n e o r p a r t l y a i r - b o r n e ;

A. summary of t h e observatioris suggests t h a t l i g h t n i n g b a l l s (1)i m i -

i n space a l t h o u g h a r e oPteri i n i t i a l l y a s s o c i a t e d w i t h w i r e s o r s t r u c t u r e s ;
( 4 ) move rando&-

in

motion; (5) a r e iusually abou-t 10 i n c h e s i n d i a m e t e r ; ( 6 ) a e u s u a l l y spheri c a l i n shape; ( 7 ) a r e v e r y r a r e l y green o r violet i n c o l o r b u t a r e f Y e -

space o r a l o n g conductors and o f t e n t i m e s e x h t b i t a r-olli.ng o r s p i n n i n g

and b r i l 1 i a n . t arid o f t e n cause c o n s i d e r a b l e dxrxige) ; (8) have a median durat i o n of about 3-4 seconds; ( 9 ) u s u a l l y decay q u i t e suddenly (sometimes explosiv-ely) ; (10) g e n e r a l l y do riot ar"fect t h e v i s i o n u n l e s s o:P t h e white

quuen1;ly muti-colored ( t h e white and blue-white b a l l s a r e u s u a l l y v e r y h o t

or b l u e - w h i t e c a t e g o r y and c l o s e t o t h e o b s e r v e r .

s u p p o r t i n g witriesses were on hand and gave e s s e n t i a l l y t h e same d e t a i l s .

I n numerous c a s e s o t h e r

'Yhe s t a t i s t i c s compiled a g r e e i n g e n e r a l w i t h o t h e r o b s e r v a t i o n s r e -

ported i n the l i t e r a t u r e .

5, 18-21

f a l l i n t o t h e c a t e g o r y ~f "St. Elmo's F i r e "

'There i s no doubt that some of thein

* , "J~acob's Ladder'")C*y and

however, -there i s a s u r p r i s j - n g l y l a r g e nunber o f the iiidividual, a i r - b o r n e ,

t y p e d i s c h a r g e s i n v o l v i n g conciuc t o r s o r a conductor and t h e atnosphere ;

other

t o wh-ich K a p i t z a ' s p o s t u l a t e of s t a n d i n g waves m y not appl.y, according t o

f r e e - f l o a t i n g type (144 i n s t a n c e s plus 90 which were a i r -borne p a r t - t i m e )

4

Tonks.

No reports of beaded o r r o s a r y l i g h t n i n g were rria.de.

' k e e , also, H. Nauer, TJmschau F o r t s c h r . Wiss. u. Tech. 56, 75 (1956); J. C. Jensen, P h y s i c s 4, 372 (1.933).
-x-

%lamed a f t e r St. Erasmus ( d i e d A.D. 303?) who under the p e r s e c u t i o n of Diocletian w a s t o r t u r e d , r o l l e d i n pitch and sei; a f i r e . H e remained isniiixrt, was rei.mpsisoried .to be s t a r v e d t o death but was repor tedly f r e e d by an a n g e l . Yhe b l u e glowing l i g h t s (corona dischrz-r*ge) r;ornet:'!.mes seen a t mastheads b e f o r e and a f t e r storms were thought; by the Nespolitari seamen to b e s i g n s of t h e i r patron's p r o t e c t i o n and were c a l l e d St. EZiiio's f i r e (Erasmus through the years became Erasnus, Ermus, Erne, ;znd f i n a l l y Elmo). S t . Elmo's f i r e i s c h a r a c t e r i z e d as a high vol'i;sge, low current discharge. ~lso, sorrie-times c a l l e d " P e t e r ' s fire" a f t e r 13lessed P e t e r Gonzalez 03 Portugal.
I n t h e O l d Tes-Lament, Jacob i s reported t o have seer? a band of angels ascending t o heaven upon a glowing lacider. A low voltage, h i g h c u r r e n t e l e c t r i c a l arc between two a,hntnc,s.t p a r a l l e l w i r e s gives a d i s c h a r g e which 'S i s m a g n e t i c a l l y blown along t h e w i r e s - lierice the ~iatllieJ W G ~Ladder.

x 3.

-8The f a c t t h a i 62 o b s e r v a t i o n s o f doughnut o r r i n g c o n f i g u r a t i o n s and

50 o b s e r v a t i o n s o f s u r f a c e type o f glow d i s t r i b u i i o n s were r e p o r t e d sus-

g - s t s t h e p o s s i b i l i t y of an e x c i t e d r i n g o r s u r f a c e .

It i s p o s s i b l e t h a t
'LO

p s y c h o l o g i c a l f a c t o r s i nherent i n 'die q u e s t i o n may have l e d o b s e r v e r s

make siich r e p o r t s on the slow d i s t r i b u t i o n ("Was it, a s w f a c e , volume,

doughnut, o r r i n g type o f g l o w ? " ) .

It i s a l s o p o s s i b l e t h a i ! ~ i u l t i - c o l o r i n g
Alihoiigh no q u e s t i o n w a s asked spe-

o f t'nP b a l l ( s e e Table VIlI) due t o i n t e r n a l ternpersture v a r i a c i o i i s may account f o r such a glow d i s t r i b u t i o n . c i f i c a l l y on the i n t e r n a l motion of Liid l i g h t n i n g b a l l , 46 i n d i v i d u a l s

r e p o r t e d a r o l l i n g , spinning9 or tumbling type o f motion suggesting r o ~ a Many c a s e s r e p o r t e d i n ilie l i t e r a t u r e a s c r i b e a r o t a t i o n a l p r o p e r t y to Lhe ball.

t i o n a l plasma o r ' mass flow and t,h? p o s s i b i l i L y of an i n t p r n a l r i n g c u r r e n t .

R b a l l l i g h t n i n g o b s e r v a t i o n r e p o r t e d by L. B. Loeb

LO

Hwnphreys
01

19

included i h e statemeniu, "It nas been my impression i n t h i n k i n g

it that

t h e so-tal-led b a l l was i n t e r n a l l y i n r a p i d r o t a t i o n o f some s o r t o r t h e r e

w a s a vortex which gave i t i t s shape".

'YABLF: I. QUESTIONlKAIRE ON "BALL LIGHTNING!'
"Ba2.l Lightning" has been considered by n m e r o u s capable s c i e n t i s t s

as having o b j e c t i v e r e a l - i t y and s e v e r a l physical. models have been proposed

.to e x p l a i n t h e phenomenon.

I n view of i t s p o s s i b l e i n t e r p r e t a t i o n as a P l e a s e f i l l out arid r e t u r n t o Any a d d i t i o n a l comments, r e f e r Yes

Yes
m . .

s t a b l e plasma c o n f i g l x a t i o n and hence i m p o r t a x e i n ihe thermonuclear f i e l d t h e following q u e s t i o n n a i r e i s submit.ted. t h e Thermonuclear Experimental Division.

ences, o r l i s t i n g of observers you make w i l l be a p p r e c i a t e d .

1 . Have you ever seen " b a l l l i g h t n i n g " ?

3.
4.

NO

2. Cid i t occdr o n l y a f t e r a l i q h t n i n g f l a s h ?
Approximatp?y how l o n g d i d i t p e r s i s t ?
D i d i t decay slowly or suddenly? What sj,? or range o f s i z e s was t h e baIJ-? Was i i a s u r f a c e , V O ~ L ~doughnut, , or ring

rJ o

__I___

5.
6.

type of' glow?

7.

3 i d t i e s i z e of t h e b a l l change?

(a) quickly

(b) Sradually

8.

Did any unusual sounds acconqariy the pberionwm, or its disappearance? Did i t cause m y unusual disturbance or 1.eav-e
zny a f t ere i"i'e c ts ?
(a,)

9.

Yes
Yes

No

(b) o b j e c t s melted?

o'bcjec ts scorched?

No
NO

( e > magnetic objects d i s t u r b e d ?

Ye S ~Yes

.No
T V O

(e) e l e c t r o s t a t , i c e f f e c t s ?
(8) activaSion e f f e c t s ?

(d) non-metallic objects disturbed?

( f) p~iotogra.pbiei*il.m (x-ray) effects?

(h) sunbwn? (i) odo-r?
10. D i d you notice any p o i n t type discharges?
(j) other?

Yes

Yes Yes Yes Yes YSS

l _ l l

~-

NO

NO

i.J 0
NO

NO
NO

1 1 . Did it move randomly i.n space, follow conductors,

remain in general c o n t a c t w i . t h swfac?s, o r was

Yes

12 * 1 2 J .

What c o l o r arid color changes were noted?

D i d you have ariy special v i s u a l effects

i t air-borne part of the time?

1 4

Did yoii notice any heat or heatirig e f f e c t s ?

duri.ng or a f t e r the everi.t?

%es

N0
wcz

1 . 1 5 .

Comments, s u g g e s t i o n s , etc:

Yes

Il'hermonuclear Exper irrental 1 ) iv ision

Room 335

Building 9201-2

-10 TABLE 1 1 .

LIGIITNTNG

OBSERVATIONS ON CONDiYLONS ASSOCIATE0 WITH O R I G I N OF BALL Unreported o r Uncertain Followint: Lightning Discharge

69
3'76

Noi Following T,ightnj.ng Discharge

CJear Sky
TOTAL

65
3

5 1 . 3

TABLE 111. OBSEIIVATIONS ON POINT OF OKIlGrPJ Unreported o r Uncertain Me.tallic S t r u c t u r e s E l e c t r i c a l Lines Non-mc t a l l i c Struc-iui.es Occurred i n A i r
TOTAL

350
42
47

33

Tel-ephoiie Lines

21 _--5I 3

26

TRHLE I V

OBSlCHVATIONS ON ENVlKONl4ENTAL CONDI'I'IONS Unreported o r Uncertain A i r Borne Attached t o Conductors General Contact w i t h Non-Conductors
Ai.r Borne P a r t i'ime

55

144 114
111 513

TOTAI,
'TABTIE

89 -

V.

OBSERVATIONS ON TYPE OY VIOTION Unreported o r Uncertain

Along Conductors

257
103

Floating, Bouncing, fiandom Motion

68
31 1 4
7

Approximate S t r a i g h t Line Motion Stationary

'Tumbling, Spinning o r Rollfng No Lion

46

Along Surface
Jumped from Conductor i o Conductor
TOTAL

7 -

513

TABLE VI.

ESTIMATED SIZE OF LLGI-IY'jyIN((: WLLS

Urirepor bed
01 Uncertain

67
3

Less Than One Inch

One-Tho inch

Three-Four Irlch
Fi-ve-Eigkt Inch Nine-Sixteeri Inch

1 8

52
114 129

Seventeen - L o Thir ty-Two Inch

73

Greater Than Sixty-Fou-r Irich

TOTAL W.8LE VTI.
Unreported o r Ur1certai.n

Thirty-Three t o Si.xty-Fout* Inch

37

20 515
79

REPORTED GLOW DISTRIBUTIOI~ IDI LII;HmING BALLS

IJniforrn or Volwile Ring o r Doughnut
Surface

313 62
9 -

50

Miscellaneous Shapes
TAHLE VI11

TOTAL
HEPORTED COLO.R* OF LIC;I-1?'1\1 IPSr; MLLS

513

Unreported or [ J n c e r t a i n lied

202
58

Yellow

Grange

32
23

Green
Blue

Violet
White

26
2
22

Blue -T&i te
Yellow-lv3ite
Miscellaneous Two-Color Combiriatior LS
M i s c ellarieous Three-Color Combinations

27

Hed-Orange

23

Orange-Pellow

14
57

16

TOTAL

28 -

-x-Possible c o l o r - b l i n d n e s 6 of s u - b j e c t s rlot known

513

-7-2 -

TABLE IX.

ES?'IYATED DURATION OF L I G h T N I N G FALLS Unreported o r Unceriain Less Than One Second One t o Two Szconds Three t o Four Seconds Five t o E i g h t Seconds Nine t o S i x t e e n Seconds Seventeen t o Thirty-Two Seconds T h i r t y - Three t o S ixty-Four Seconds Sixty-Five t o One Hundred l'wpntyE i g h t Seconds G r e a t e r 'Than One Hundred TwentyEight Seconds
TOTAL

68
33

135
43 23

133
44

16
7

515
92

10

TABLE X .

TYPE OF DECAY OF LIGHTNING HALLS Unreported o r Uncertain

s 1 owly
Suddenly
TOTAL

30 9 -

112

TABLX X I

_. REPORTEE

513
97

VISUAL AFTlMKFFECTS

Unreported o r Uncertain

A f t e r Image, Blurred Vision, e t c .

N o Effects

110
306 -

TOTAL TABLE X I I . 1.

513

" P h y s i c i s t s a r e noiori o u s l y u n r e l i a b l e ObsPrvers''.

SELECTED HUMAN TIVTEREST C O M M E N T S AND SUGGESTIONS

2.
3.
4.

"Somebody must have b e t t e r t h i n g s t o do w i t h t h e i r time".

" I have heard of t h i s phenomenon from a h i g h l y u n r e l i a b l e source".

"Try 'Whiie 1,ightning'".

"Try f l y i n g saucers".

5.

6.
7.

"I don' t l o o k at l i g h t n i n g " .

t u answer them".

" I couldn' t swear t o any of t h e above mswers, s o 1 won't attempt

-13
8.

LO.
11.

9. "My salary doesn't p a y f o r a. scient,il'ie scope".

" I ' v e never sceii fl-ying s a u c e r s eii,her".
o f f i r e he had. seen

"I w i l l endeavor t o be more observant".

"You are r e a l l y l e a v i n g no s t o n e unturncd".

12.

"A mail 1 once worked f o r many y e a r s ago d e s c r i b e d a n orange b a l l

- .-...."..
~

The nlan wcs p o o r l y educated".

13. "Lightning s t r u c k t r e e s e v e r a l hundred f e e t away, . b a l l f l a s h e d

14.

probably faded as it l e f t garage w'nen I did".

"1.t was pretty"

across and i n t o open eud garage, followed w a l l at ground level.,

E.
1.7.

"I ducked".

1%. "Don't want to see any morel'.

I f L e t God l-iandle .this".
SELECTED

TABLE

xm.

comrmm ori

Observation N o . 2

HRL'L LIGHTNING HEPOHTS

The opiniori of' s e v e r a l at,

" ( a ) This iricid.ent happmed s e v e r a l years ago.

mission l i n e and followed i t t o a power substation 1.ess Uian 1-/4 x i l e away.

Choke c o i l s and l i g h t n i n g a r r e s t o r s w i t h horn gaps s-t s u b s t a t i o n did n o t
check t h e d i s c h a r g e t o any a p p r e c i a b l e e x t e n t ; however, ground c a b l e s from

the time was that l i g h t n i n g discharged t o one conductor o f ' a 154 KV brans-

arrestors were slightly burned.

5

arid melted copper conductors on low t e n s i o n bus sild complete burnout of

'Die damage c o n s i s t e d of broken i n s u l a t o r s

2000 IOJA trarisformers.

(.b) S e v e r a l people

from p o i n t a t substabion where extensive darnage wa:s done.

saw this i n c i d e n t .

W e were all approximately 250 ft.

of l a r g e spark gap w i t h g r e a t f'rcquency.

d u r i n g t1ii.s brief interval t h e r e were m n y d i s c h a r g e s i'rorn low terision bus

Lo s t r u c t u r e ,

( d ) The interval o f time of the davzge to siibstation was very s h o r t and

:Low t e n s i o n bus w%re s h a t t e r e d , as well as 7joth low t e r i s i o n and hi,gh t e n -

and from transfox-mer. c a s e s t o s t , r u c t u r e

all i n s n l a t o r s

011

s.i.0.n bushi.iig:s of a l l t h r e e ZOO0 FIJA transformers.

-14 (e) W e were never a b l e t o t e l l i f t h e 'ball' o r 'discharge' of l i g h t n i - n g d i d i n g t h e ' s h o r t i n g ' between low t e n s i o n bus, s t r u c t u r e and transformer cases. through or over 154 KV o i l switch on t h e l i n e e n t e r i n g sirbs'cati-on, and it
[ f ) The mystery of t h e i n c i d e n t w a s t h a t t h i s ' b a l l ' or ' d i s c h a r g e ' passed

a l l t h e damage t o t h e s u b s t a t i o n , o r i f i t was t h e primary cause i n s t a r t -

pen i n c a s e of a ' s u r g e ' .

was not damaged i n t h e l e a s t .

Neither d i d i t open, as would normally hap-

( g ) This t h i n g w a s kicked around. f o r some time and many debates fol.lowed.

I never d i d l e a r n anything that w a s d e f i n i t e l y established. or documented.

( h ) One t h i n g d i d s t a n d out - t h e r e was t e r r i f i c h e a t from t h e ' b a l l ' or 'discharge'

top

- t h e s u r f a c e of t h e transmi-ssion l i n e w a s deeply p i t t e d on

however t h e m a t e r i a l s [ p o r c e l a i n , s t e e l and. copper) of low t e n s i o n

bus and i t s i n s u l a t o r s w i t h supporti-ng s t e e l s t r u c t u r e were i n p a r t como f transformers c a s e s and with p o r t i o n s of bo'ih LT and HT biishings." Observation No. 3

p l e t e l y melted as i f from a c r u c i b l e - t h i s same m e l t i n g occurred on t o p s

"This was noted during an i n t e n s e e l e c t r i c a l . stool*m. Lightning s t r u c k a be a sphere about 4 t o 6 inches i.n diameLer which ' f l o a t e d ' by a s c r e e n door when i t disappeared. Observation no. 8 -_._ i n d e t a i l e d o b s e r v a t i o n b u t was merely f r i g h t e n e d . " telephone l i n e and t h e b a l l was discharged from the phone.

I'Lappeared to

I w a s a c h i l d a t t h e time and w a s not i r i t e r e s t e d

along a fence, along r a i l r o a d t r a c k s .

"Twice, on d i f f e r e n t occasions, a tumble weed t y p e of movement w a s seen These o b s e r v a t i o n s were made i n Seemed

mid-afternoon just b e f o r e a l o c a l t w i s t e r , no r a i n , where we were.

t o exp1od.e and vanish."

Observation No. 10 ._I___ One a f t e r n o o n we were having am e l e c t r i c a l storm.

j.t

"The summer of 1 9 2 7 I was working w i t h a s t a t e highway surveying p a r t y .

N o r a i n a t t h e time.

long and on t h e bottom and t o p t o p road.

One of t h e boys was holding a level. rod. ( a l e v e l rod i s wood-en, about 13' has a b r a s s cap) i n t h e c e n t e r of a b l a c k The l i g h t n i n g seemed t o s t r i k e t h e t o p of t h e rod, it appeared

r o l l e d dowii road abou-L 1 0 0 ' and disappeared as t h o it was exhausted."

to be a b a l l , then spinning i t l e f t rod and s t r u c k road about 50' away,

-15Observa-tion No. 12

"The b a l l appeared on a 5500 v o l t transrnissiori l.i.ne a,p_uroxirnai;ely 20 Tt.

from a. pole.

Ob s ervat,i o n No. 16

The b a l l persisted arid s l o x l y moved along th.e w i r e t o the .i-nsulator whi.ch then e q l - o d e d .

"Rbo~i.L 1926, during a surmier' .Lliunderstor.m c e n t e r e d 1 / 2 Lo one

~ r i i l eway,

I was watching frequent cloud.-to-ground l i g h t n i n g

discharges

ltectiori i t was not preceded or accomi>aiii.cziIby an o r d i n a r y 1igIitn:ing s t r o k e .

white b a l l 'float' t o the ground, follo-wing a v e r t i c a l . pa;th,

To my recol.-

i saw a

I : e s t i - r a t e approximately one second from its tqqearance a t t'ne base of Yne

area .

cloud until i . t disappeared behind a h i l l i n t o a -caninhabitmi swmp alid woods

its p a t h was somewhat wider t h a n Ynat of a.n o r d i n a r y I.i.ghtnirrg s t r o k e .
t h e ball.

The ball d i d not change in size or appearance d u r i n g my- observ-atiori;

Some luminosity of -the t r a i l persisted for. a fraction of a second. behind

T h e r e were no urrususl soumis and I have no information on a f t e r

eff'ec-Ls.

O b s e r - r a t i o n N o , 17

So far as I know, I w a s the only observer."

ij8.11 of fire
it

"A-bout, 1939, & w i n g a local e l e c t r i c a l storm, I observed t h a n a half rni.2.e ;may.

following the upper (grou~id)wire o f a Iiigti--tension L i n e

litt1.e ~ - e s s

lightning which I presume h i t

t h i n k it 'was sudden.
shape.

This ball was i i r i e d i a t e l y preced.ed by a s t T 0 k . e of

two o r ' three seconds; I ' m sorry 1 d o n ' t rememuer i t s disappearance, b u t I

the high-.Lensi.on l i n e .

The b a l l l a s t e d for

was r e d d i s h i n c o l o r , d i d n o t sezm t o charige size, and was s p h e r i c a l i n

The ball t ~ p p e s r e dto be one or two feet in diaraeter,

pariiecl .wi-th unusual sourids os v i s u a l ef'fec'ts

It followed t h e conductor as tho-ugh it were r o l l i n g on top of' it .for perhaps 1 0 6 yards. I ca,nnot say w i t h csert,ainty wl-tet'ner it was accmm-

'121.e e l e c - t r t c a l transmission

l i n e ?$as krioclied out but

or after e f f e c t s .
n o m non
I )

''

I behieve t h a t some of our :neighbors a l s o :saw t h i s phe-

I do riot h o w f o r

s u r e of any o t h e r di.sturbances

Observa-Lion No. 20

"About 30 years ago 1 saw

the t o p 03 t h e tog straid of wire for

fence of' barbed wlre a t t a c h e d t o wooden posts.

f'irey ball descead f'rorn t,he sky and s5rj.k.e

S O I ~ rniiintes9

Tne ball {;raveled a l o n g

t h e n disappectreil.

s t r a n g e rustling sound accornipanied. t h i s appear.arice.

in. the beginning, t h e

b a l l appeared l a r g e r t h a n a t t h e end. eter.

The s i z e of t h e b a l l I should p l a c e
b a l l had. disappeared

a t l e s s than 4" and I d o n ' t b e l i e v e it w a s much l a r g e r t h a n 18" i n diamand found t h e t o p s o f t h e p o s t s w a r m and very s l i g h t l y scorched. only t h e I.oose p o r t i o n of t h e s u r f a c e was scorched." Observation No. 2 3 Orangc flame c o l o r was c o n s t a n t . " Observation No. 42 "Boimced t h r e e times, t h e n r o l l e d about 100 f t . down c e n t e r of s t r e e t .

I examined t h e fence w i t h i n minu-tes a f t e r t h e

That i s ,

" B a l l seemed t o r o l l i n a forward d i r e c t i o n .

Vel.oci-ty seemed slow r e l a t i v e

t o r a t e of r o t a t i o n . above it."

B a l l . also seemed t o p a r a l l e l ground about 30 f t .

Observation No. 45

"This occurred a f t e r a li&tnri.ng s t r i k e from a power p o l e . The ma,n was dazed, sunburned, b u t otherwise unhurt. Observation No. 46
'I

The hall. seemed

t o move down t h e pole, a c r o s s a s t r e e t , over a man and i n t o a wooded a r e a .

"'The above occu.rred once i n Iowa, l a t e r i n western Nebraska. t h e o l d - 'crank t y p e ' country telephone.

Both involved

During e l e c t r i c a . 1 storms m y father

.the c e i l i n g t o mi-nimize t h e chances of our being s t r u c k by a, quote,

taught m y seven b r o t h e r s and m e t o always a i m t h e phone mouthpiece toward '1-ightning b a l l ' . A t t h e time 1 w a s both t o o f r i g h t e n e d and t o o s r m l l t o

observe any s c i e n t i f i c a s p e c t s of t h e phenornenon, however, I rcca2.l seeing

t h e r e d b a l l fl.ash from phone t o c e i - l i n g simi-lar t o

charge, except of much shorter. du-ration. 'I Observation No. 49 _ . _ I _ -

a Roman candle d i s -

"Da.te w a s l a t e summer 1939 o r 40, place P a l e s t i n e , I l l . derstorm i n p r o g r e s s . r a i n e d r a t h e r hard.

'There w a s a thunLater i t

I do ilot r e c a l l d e f i n i t e l y whether i t was r a i n i n g

b e f o r e t h e event, b u t 1 b e l i e v c i t had not y e t s t a r t e d r a i n i n g . w i t h thunder and l i g h t n i n g .

M y memory- i s 'that i t w a s simply 'working up t o i t ' M y l i t t l e s i s t e r had. gone i n t o a bedroom t o

use the phone when I heard h e r c r y o u t and c a l l my name. f i l l e d bal-loon would.

I ran i n t o the

room i n time t o see a. 'ball o f T i r e ' s e t t l i n g t o the fl.oor much as a n air

There was a r o t a r y motion of t h e o b j e c t .

about 1ik.e a ballooii.

I t , s t r u c k t h e floor and rebounded s l i g h - t l y , again,

i t rolled.

-17and bounced (damped bounce l i k e a l i g h t ball) a c r o s s {;he f l o o r t o t h e l e g sound, a l i t t l e vxpor o r smoke v i s i b l e , and t h e thin53 was gone. There was <a, b l u e f l a s h , a .r a t h e r loud spark discharge

of an i r o n bed.

I seem

t o recal.1 t h a t t h e w h i t e en,%nel on t h e bed l e g was burned a l i k t l e , b u t nothing dramtic. t h e f l o o r , t h a t i s , made a f l a t c o n t a c t spot. t h e phone, t h e p a r t i c u l a r s of which I f o r g e t .

I might say -that t h e sphex seemed t o defl.ect on hi.t,ting

The phorle s t o o d on a s t a n d

near t h e o t h e r end of t h e bed, and I seem t o r e c a l l some malfv.nc-i;ion. of

c a l l e d o u t when she s m t h e t h i n g descending r a p i d l y o u t s i d e the window, the window s i l l .

Y i s i s - t e r t o l d me 1h.t she

and t h a t i t crame down and through t h e steel wire s c r e e n (I ) and. bounced on shape of depending total-ly on my memory the time ! Observatioii No. 5 7

I might s t a k e t h a t I f i n d myself i n the v e r y u n s c i e n t i f i c

--

I d i d not w r i t e a t h i n g down a t

(a) I have seen what Midwest farriers refer t o as a ball o f l i g h t n i n g on

two d i f f e r e n t o c c a s i o n s . h i g h rate of speed a l o n g a power l i n e . of i t s s i z e . I n each i n s t a n c e the oall. was t r a v e l i n g a,t a The b a l l had a v e r y d i s t i n c t b l u e

c a s t , because o f the viewing di-stance, T could not o b t a i n a good estimate

It, however, appeared t o m a i n t a i n a s t a b l e c o n f i g u r a t i o n

d u r i n g t h e s h o r t time i n which I viewed it.

I n each c a s e a, severi? e l e c The b a l l d i d not, l e a v e

t r i c a l storm w a s o c c u r i n g i n t h e immediate a r e a . o t h e r l i n e s were nearby. rapidly.

t h e power l i n e on which I f i r s t observed i.t n o t w i t h s t a n d i n g t h e f a c t t h a t

It moved along t h e l i n e and o u t of sight v e r y

So f a x as I kno-w, no d.amage t o Yne l i n e r e s u l t e d .

I w a s working underncathn a, car w i t h I heard

str.i.ke o r m-ay have been such a b a l l .

( b ) On a t h i r d occttsion I witnessed what m y have been a simple l i g h t n i n g

a n e x t e n s i o n l i g h t hung nearby d u r i n g a s e v e r e e l e c t r i c a l storm.

a c r a c k s u g g e s t i v e of a l i g h t n i n g s t r o k e and w i t h i n a second o r two w i t nessed a b l u e d i s c h a r g e from the e x t e n s i o n l i g h t which r a c e d from otie This dj.schai*ge l a s t e d f o r

p o i n t t o a n o t h e r of t h e iuldersi.de of t h e c a r .

s e v e r a l seconds d u r i n g wliich Lime I experienced a t l e a s t one major shock.

The f i n a l g;Toundifig p o i n t of t h c d i s c h a r g e was unseen.

Observation No. 6 1
1

It,

lnis i s p r o b a b l y a mna.rghal c a s e .

parently s t r u c k ( o r v e r y near) our house.

It occixcred a t the tinic l i g h t r i i n g ayJThe outdoor antenna wire was

shiedde-i. but not melted.

sill
W ~ Loin S

t o t h e c e n t e r o f t h e room v e q - r a p i d l y , and j u s t go out.

i l ;

loose.

,he

Where t h e antenna e n t e r e d t h e room t h e window

' b a l l ' appezred t o o r i g i a a i e 2t ilie window,

float

Kerosene lamps

the room were cxiinguished aiid t h e r e was z s t r o n g odor or" 'brimstone'

63

."

Observation 7170.
I1

altiiough perhaps it i s not ' 3 a l l L i g h t n i n g ' , t h e r e may be some r e l a t i o n ship.

I am enclosing a sketch" of a phenomenon which T observed as a c h i l d ;

Do with it as you wish.

w a s perhaps 10 o r 12 y e a r s o l d a t t h e time, v e r y i n t e r e s t e d i n watching

I.ightning.

1 r e g r e t I canno-'i g i v e more dztai1.s.

appeared as an ex.plosion, and was Snstantaneous; ( 3 ) t h e c o l o r was t h e sa.rne

(I) it. occurred duri-ng a rather- v i o l e n t thunderstorm;

I o n l y remember t h i s because i t impressed me as being unusual

( 2 ) t h e 'Fire Ba2.l'

as t h a t of t h e spark; ( 4 ) a loud c r a s h followed t h e discharge - perhaps 1

d i r e c t i o n , t h e r e was a r e p e a t performance, almost i d e n t i c a l . t o t h e f i r s t ; y knowledge, I know of no conductor i n t h a t a r e a t h a t ( 6 ) t o t h e b e s t of m could have heen h i t . struck.
by t h e maid, who
I know o f no damage t o anything.

s e c . l a t e r ; (5) 30 seconds or more Later, as I was still gawking i n t h a t

'!:'ne b a r n was n o t

I r e c a l l no f u r t h e r o b s e r w t i o n , as 1 w a s d i s t r a c t e d at t h i s p o i n t
W ~ now S

crouched i n a corner, praying f e r v e n t l y ! "

Observation KO. 64

"I w a s s t a n d i n g o n shore o f c i r c u l a r pond o f about 1 / 4 m i l e r a d i u s .

Light-

ning h i t c e n t e r o f pond, b a l l developad, travel-ed 10 o r 15 f t . above water f o r approxima'iely 1-00 yd., h i t water, bounced up w i t h a i r again, h i t a

My age and tha.t o f s e v e r a l oiiier w i t n e s s e s was approximately 1 4 y e a r s . "

I " _ -

hundred yard-s f u r t h e r on and suddenly disappeared w h i l e a g a i n in mid a i r . Observati-on N o . 69 -

" B a l l seen r o l l i n g i f ' you will on el.ec.tric l i n e conductor in a i r for 3

200 f t . spa,ns and exploded a t corner."

~

Observation No. 7 8
_ 1 .

l i g h t n i n g r o l l e d out."

"During a. storm, t h e oven door on t h e s t o v e w a s h o c k e d open a n d t h e ball.

-...-._ *Lightning spark shown t e r m i n a t i n g i n a f i r e b a l l about 1 0 t o 20 f t . above

am o l d b a r n which w a s l o c a t e d about 1000 f t . from observer.

-19Observation No. 8 6

l'Occu.x'rerJ during heaTjy thuridcrs.torm; accompanied l i g h t n i n g s t r i k e just

ouixicle home ; e n t e r e d through open door i n r o l l i r i g mot,ion arid proceeded i ! i 8 direct line toward s h e l l casing (4" d.ianieter s h e l l casing) \ 11

Observaiion N o . 111

"Ked w i t h white tunibl-ing l i g h t i.nsidc. ' I

Observa;Lion No. 113

about 20 y a r d s froxi t h e t r e e , seemed t o s p i n o r v i b r a t e , and exgloded w i t h

a bal i g .'I
I1

o f f Prom the t r e e , t r a v e l i n g h o r k o n t s l l y i n a s t r a i g h t l i n e .

"A b o l t of' lightning h i t

it

t r e e , splitting i t partway down.

The ball c \ m e

I t stopped

Observation No. 1-29

n i n g continued down t h e Lruzrk a n d . seemed t o roll away from tlrie %ret: on t h e

ground f o r a d i s t a n c e o f about 15 1x1 20 f t . becoming I-arger from st:art t o

l a r g e oak t r e e about c e n t e r and s p l i t off a limb.

- was 1.ook.ing o u t of :a window d.urin.g a thunderstorm. 1

1;i.ghtning s t r u c k a

I n o t i c e d k h a t ihe light-

finish.

Observation No. 169

I w a s approximately '15 t o 100 yards from a l l this."

" I saw the b a l l l i g h i n i n g while feeding cati;le on a fizrm in middle Tennessee

e l e c t r i c fence about 600 ft. from t h e end of t h e fence where I

i n 1946. A b o l t of 1.ightaing struck

&II

electric fence or c l o s e -tot h e

Wi%S

standing.

A f t e r t h e strike, 3 b:a.lls of f i r e s h o t i n ra:picl succession. f'rom t h e end

a n d 1ii.t the grouiid.

of Lhe f e n c e and traveled about 200 ft. i n the a i r ( i n a si;rai.gbt I.ine)

when t h e balls of fire l e f t the fence.

'The only n o i s e 1 heard was -the thunder arid 3 'bangs'

ance where t h e balls hit; t h e e a r t h .

Observation No. 1.84
11,
I

i n i t i a l b o l t of l i g h t n i n g had st:rilck."

The p a s t u r e had a dehydrated appearI was unsble t o 1 x 1 1 where or what .the

mile fol:Lowing Y l e line t o where it was disconnected a.t t h e hou.se,

I.ike a g i a n t s p a r k l e r .

?he l i g h t n i n g s t r u c k a count:c*y telephone l i n e , t r a v e l e d approximately l / 4

rol.l.ed

o f f the end o f t h e l i n e , h i t approxi.rnately 1 2 ' out i n t o t h e yard and b u r s t e d

No-be:

disconnected w a s split a r i d the i n s u l a t o r bursted.. "

The pole a t t h e p o i n t where t h e l i n e w a s

-20Observaiion No. 2 94
"'I2ij.s b a l l was seen a number of times by members o f t h e family.

always i n t h e same room and. sa.me p a r t of room about 2 f t . from c e i l i n g . " 0hsc:rvation No. 332 'ball o f ' fj.re'
" I was standing a t a, window d u r i n g an e l - e c t r i c a l storm and obser-d-ed tl-1i.s

L t wa.s

s t r i k e a u t i l i t y pole.

was an unusual j~l.l.mina'Liiig e f f e c t upon t h e surrounding a r e a . f i r e d i s s i p a t e d . much as a ?'ouin'Lh-of-July Observation No. 336 ' s p a r k l e r ' does.
d i d not a f f e c t the transformer on t h e pole,

Upori c o n t a c t wi.th t h e pole t h e r e

The b a l l of

Evidently, i t

as no r e p a i r s were made."

b a l l , v i s u a l e f f e c t s from t h e i n i t i a l f l a s h obscured the e f f e c t for about

"Effec.L w a s viewed once from a d i s t a n c e o f about 150 f t . away from t h e

2 seconds.

B a l l scerned. t o o r i g i n a t e about 6 f t . away from t h e 'ground

'LO

a i r ' stroke."

Observation No. 368 "Lightning s t r u c k a m e t a l well. pump l o c a t e d on a, porch t o a r e s i d e n c e , s e v e r a l ' b a l l s ' t r a v e l e d on ihe s u r f a c c of t h e floor t h e e n - t i r e I-ength o f t h e porch, perhaps 30 f e e t , t h e n vanished I-eaving no s i g n s Observaiion No. 3 7 7 well..
"Tdhnt I s a w happencd many years ago and
iii

i t s wake."

Lightning s t r u c k an e l e c t r i c power l i n e transformer during a v e r y When t h e l i g h t n i n g s t r u c k i h e r e They appeared. t o

l3al.l.s o f f i r e began pouring from t h e

I d.o

n o t remember t h e d e t a i l s too

severe e l e c t r i c a l storm a f t e r darkness. w a s a n o i s e l i k e a crack of a gun.

transformer and f e l l t o the ground one a f t e r a n o t h e r .

be r e d d i s h orange i n c o l o r and about 2 fee.t i n diameter. Observation N o . 403

11

any o b s e r v a t i o n s of t h e a r e a i n which .this occurred a f t e r the storm."

.

1 d i d not make

school.

L s a w t h i s ball. lighini.ng a t t h e age o f 1 . 2 one a f t e r n o o n on way h0.m fi-om

W e had a wind e l e c ' i r i c a l storm combination whi.ch blew t r e e limbs

down a c r o s s p0we.r l i n e s along t h e highway, over i n l o t about 100 yds, from

t h e road. This pond intercepted- t h e b a l l of llightning which went t h r u a i r Upon h i t t i n g the water i t sounded as i f
i.n s t r a i g h t line t o t h e pond.

p u t t i n g a r e d h o t p i e c e of i r o n i n t o t h e Water."

0bservat.Fon 8 0 . 466

''1 personal.:ly have obsci:r.ved t h i s type lightning o n l y once many years ago.

I t ;was entirely air-.borae, resembled a Fourth of

the i'ii-st ball was b l u e , w?i.i.cti exploded i n t o sev-eral b l u e bal-3-s which Observation No. 487
some sparks.I'

intercoririected by l i g h t n i n g flashes. The thunder was e ~ : p ~ i a l lv . iy olent,

J u l y fire work and was

traveled raridonily arid decayed in flashes of red l i g h t . "

"'Iumbled across f l o o r , like pinwheel, b a l l appeared to be revolving, khrew

-23-

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