<p>Volcanic lightning was documented by one of the earliest American volcanologists, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_A._Perret" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Frank A. Perret</a> in the 1940s. However, there was not much, if any, study of the phenomena until recently. According to <a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/2015GL067445/full" rel="nofollow noreferrer">this article</a>, the electric charge develops close to the ground where the plume gas thrust region at a few hundred meters above the crater rim, where the overpressure of the turbulent volcanic jets determines the electrification of particles generating a complex charge structure in the growing plume."</p>

<p><a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/2016GL068076/full" rel="nofollow noreferrer">The abstract of another journal article</a> indicates that additional lightning can be generated in the stratosphere, "Observations and volcanic plume modeling further suggest that electrical activity was enhanced both by ice formation in the ash clouds >10 km above sea level and development of a low-level charge layer from ground-hugging currents."</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-07-23T23:09:26.423Z
2017-07-23T23:09:26.423Z
haresfur
<p>Erupting volcanoes release ash. When ash particles collide, it can build a static charge. When that charge is released, there is lightning.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-07-23T21:22:29.063Z
A dirty thunderstorm?
Katherine
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-07-23T21:23:26.003Z
When a volcano erupts it releases ash and also a charges which creates lightning?
Katherine
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-07-23T19:27:05.487Z
2017-07-23T19:27:05.487Z
BarocliniCplusplus
<p>Just wondering about this question has been popped into my head many times and as what I have seen in some volcanic activities that when a volcano erupts there's a lightning, &amp; i don't know if there's really a storm but I do think volcanoes do attracted to lightning or it produces it's own? </p>

<p>Do volcanoes attracts to lightning? </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-07-23T15:45:29.107Z
Volcanoes like mountains tend to be high ground which means you should expect them to attract lighting.
John
<volcanology><lightning>
Volcanoes and Lightning
Katherine
# Volcanoes and Lightning

(Asked by: username_0 on 2017-07-23)

Just wondering about this question has been popped into my head many times and as what I have seen in some volcanic activities that when a volcano erupts there's a lightning, & i don't know if there's really a storm but I do think volcanoes do attracted to lightning or it produces it's own?

Do volcanoes attracts to lightning?

**Tags:** volcanology, lightning

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Volcanoes like mountains tend to be high ground which means you should expect them to attract lighting.  

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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2017-07-23. Score: 1 | Accepted answer

Volcanic lightning was documented by one of the earliest American volcanologists, [Frank A. Perret](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_A._Perret) in the 1940s. However, there was not much, if any, study of the phenomena until recently. According to [this article](http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/2015GL067445/full), the electric charge develops close to the ground where the plume gas thrust region at a few hundred meters above the crater rim, where the overpressure of the turbulent volcanic jets determines the electrification of particles generating a complex charge structure in the growing plume."

[The abstract of another journal article](http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/2016GL068076/full) indicates that additional lightning can be generated in the stratosphere, "Observations and volcanic plume modeling further suggest that electrical activity was enhanced both by ice formation in the ash clouds >10 km above sea level and development of a low-level charge layer from ground-hugging currents."


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### Answer by username_3 on 2017-07-23. Score: -1

Erupting volcanoes release ash. When ash particles collide, it can build a static charge. When that charge is released, there is lightning.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: A dirty thunderstorm?  
> **username_0**: When a volcano erupts it releases ash and also a charges which creates lightning?  

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