Abstract

IN order to explain the curious behaviour of lightning flashes the possibility should be kept in mind of a connexion between a lightning discharge and the cosmic rays. When penetrating particles from cosmic rays move through the atmosphere—in this case through electrically ‘loaded’ clouds—they are ionising the air, making conducting paths for the lightning. The twisted or irregular shapes of lightning flashes may find a natural explanation, if we think of a discharge path following the variable network of ion-tracks, such as are assumed to be present in the air at any moment, caused by nuclear disintegration of atoms and other processes in conjunction with the cosmic rays, causing emission of protons, neutrons and negative or positive electrons.