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

6. The Blue Lightning Super Bolt of 2010

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Scientists noted what they called a "superbolt" of blue lightning near Florida's coast in August 2010. Ground-based sensors and satellite pictures caught this remarkable event, exposing a lightning strike of hitherto unheard-of force and duration. Said to be almost 1000 times more powerful than a typical lightning strike, the bolt lasted almost a whole second. Its great energy, which ionised nitrogen molecules in the atmosphere, produced the characteristic blue glow by means of ionisation. The fact that the bolt originated in the upper atmosphere had researchers especially interested since it suggested it might have been started by cosmic rays or another high-energy particle from space. For those studying lightning, the 2010 Super Bolt gave insightful analysis of the very upper limits of lightning intensity and duration. This occurrence also spurred debates on the possible effects of such strong strikes on electrical infrastructure and aircraft safety, therefore fostering better detection techniques and lightning protection systems.