"Alan LeHun" wrote in message
...
In article ,
says...
I was always aware it was some sort of lightning-related phenomenon, and
this evening I found myself thinking about it, so I went online to search
for info, but couldn't find anything. I don't know the proper name for
this,
so I can't look it up. Any ideas?


You see this more often the higher you are (or at least, I do). I came
across this phenomenon last Autumn whilst driving down the Eastern side
of the Grampians. When I got home, I checked the lightning sites which
showed some intense activity over the North Sea, about 85-125 miles away
from the observation points but in exactly the right direction.

Next time you see it, if you get home in time, check the Lightning sites
to see where the nearest activity is. I've only managed to do that the
once, and having seen that the storms were over water on that occasion
got me to thinking that previous observations were always in the
direction of water, either to the East or the North. I just assumed that
the light was reflecting off the water and back on to the cloud base
which was observable just above my horizon but I didn't give it much
thought.

Were your observations to the West or South West by any chance?

Interesting. Those are possibilities for some of the things I saw in
Scotland. Where are these lightning sites? My observations were more
northerly or easterly actually that night, though. Can't be very accurate as
I was driving along a curvy road at the time.

ally

On Mar 14, 8:36*am, "a l l y"
wrote:
"Alan LeHun" wrote in message
...
In article ,
says...

I was always aware it was some sort of lightning-related phenomenon, and
this evening I found myself thinking about it, so I went online to search
for info, but couldn't find anything. I don't know the proper name for
this,
so I can't look it up. Any ideas?

You see this more often the higher you are (or at least, I do). I came
across this phenomenon last Autumn whilst driving down the Eastern side
of the Grampians. When I got home, I checked the lightning sites which
showed some intense activity over the North Sea, about 85-125 miles away
from the observation points but in exactly the right direction.

Next time you see it, if you get home in time, check the Lightning sites
to see where the nearest activity is. I've only managed to do that the
once, and having seen that the storms were over water on that occasion
got me to thinking that previous observations were always in the
direction of water, either to the East or the North. I just assumed that
the light was reflecting off the water and back on to the cloud base
which was observable just above my horizon but I didn't give it much
thought.

Were your observations to the West or South West by any chance?

Interesting. Those are possibilities for some of the things I saw in
Scotland. Where are these lightning sites?
My observations were more northerly or easterly actually that night, though.
Can't be very accurate as I was driving along a curvy road at the time.

I'm surprised it took so long to get an answer.

Lightning can't be heard if it is a few miles away. But it can be seen
a great distance off. It should also register on local radio stations
and presumably, on most frequencies picking any radio station signal.

I suppose that latter depends on what direction your signal comes and
how far you are from the discharge.