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Earth

Car exhaust fumes cause lightning strikes

14 January 2009

New Scientist. Science news and long reads from expert journalists, covering developments in science, technology, health and the environment on the website and the magazine.

Not only does air pollution affect the rain, it also causes more lightning strikes

(Image: Graham Smith/Rex)

COMMUTERS’ car exhaust doesn’t just warm the globe – it can also increase lightning strikes for miles around.

During the working week, air pollution rises because of all the vehicles on the road. This effect has been shown to modify rainfall patterns both at the weekend and during the week by creating stronger updrafts of air and bigger clouds.

Now it seems weekday pollution can bring lightning as well as rain. Daniel Rosenfeld of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and colleagues, counted strikes recorded…

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