The lightning during storms is incredible, terrifying, and beneficial at the same time. I recently discovered something fantastical about lightning.
Although thunderstorms occur year-round, they are most common during my favorite times of the year, spring and summer. Most people don’t like being caught in a thunderstorm. I know I don’t. The flashes, crackling of lightning, and the boom of the thunder are unsettling, especially while driving or walking to your vehicle. During thunderstorms, it’s safer to be indoors.
The lightning is cutting sharp, and it splits the sky. These connected strings of electricity suspended above the earth are from another world—the mysterious celestial world. The lightning reminds us that we are mere earthly creatures. Superheroes like The Flash, Storm, Black Lightning, and others are just imaginary, fictitious hocus pocus images whose superpower includes lightning.
Let’s be real; lightning is nothing to play with. Knowing that you can be struck by lightning or it can strike the ground, trees, buildings, or some other thing is reason enough to be cautious during thunderstorms.
One thing I do like during thunderstorms is the rainfall and downpours; the water from heaven is vital for our existence. I guess you can say I’m a pluviophile. A pluviophile is someone who loves rain. But I’m not an astraphobia or someone who has an unwarranted fear of thunder and lightning.
Although lightning strikes can cause death, fires, and other devastation, did you know that there’s a positive, non-threatening aspect to lightning?
Did you know that lightning contributes to the growth of plants and grass?
I thought it was just the rain that boosted the growth of the grass, shrubs, and plants after a thunderstorm. Everything is greener and healthier.
Many people use large vats to catch and store rainwater for their gardens and plants. My husband does this sometimes. There’s no doubt rainwater is better for plants than faucet water which has chloride and other chemicals.
What does lightning have that boosts plants’ metabolism? The answer is in the study of a particular chemical element.
Lightning has nitrogen.
Although the air is 78% nitrogen, the air’s nitrogen isn’t helpful to plants until its molecular structure is changed. The heat in the lightning alters the molecular composition of the nitrogen. That’s a lot of firepower and heat. The nitrogen falls to the earth with the rain and is absorbed in the soil. The nitrogen mixes with other minerals in the soil and forms nitrate, a natural fertilizer. Nitrogen is one of the ingredients of plant fertilizers.
Keeping plants healthy and green is nature doing what it does best—naturally, and this built-in fertilization system is free to all.
Studies conclude that lightning strikes 100 times per second. This stat is mind-boggling and proves to be a great benefit for plants despite the chances of fires and other potential problems.
The next time there’s a thunderstorm, don’t forget about the benefits of lightning. And I hope you and I both are indoors.
Be safe.