10 Famous Blue Lightning Strike Events in History, with the 5th Still Unexplained!

3. The Blue Lightning of Mount Vesuvius (1906)

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Observers saw an amazing show of blue lightning inside the volcanic plume in April 1906 as Mount Vesuvius erupted violently in Italy. Now known as volcanic lightning, this unusual event produced an amazing and terrible show as blue bolts swept the ash-filled heavens. The strength and colour of the lightning, which seemed to come from the very centre of the eruption, stunned both residents and scientists. One of the first well-documented instances of blue lightning linked to volcanic activity, this event spurred scientists to look at the special circumstances under which this phenomena occurs. Later studies showed that powerful electrical fields produced by the collision of ash particles and ice crystals within the volcanic plume might cause lightning discharges. The blue hue was ascribed to specific gases and particles in the volcanic eruptions. Mount Vesuvius's Blue Lightning not only gave volcanologists useful information but also motivated writers and artists, therefore securing its position in both scientific publications and cultural memory.