Article Information Category: Weather Content source: SKYbrary Content control: EUROCONTROL WX Tag(s) Weather Phenomena Description A visible luminous electrical discharge observed around parts of an aircraft when the electrical charge on the aircraft becomes sufficiently intense. Similar in nature to the glow from a neon tube, and often observed as brushlike fiery jets extending from the tip of an aerial, a wing, propeller, windscreen or other part of an aircraft. Characteristics St. Elmo's Fire occurs when the atmosphere becomes charged and an electrical potential strong enough to cause a discharge (plasma) is created between an object and the air around it. This can happen to an aircraft flying through heavily charged skies. St Elmo's Fire is usually bluish or violet in colour but can also have a greenish tinge. While not a hazard in itself, St Elmo's Fire is an indication of Thunderstorm activity and may be a precursor to a Lightning strike. Apparently, St. Elmo's Fire can sometimes be heard singing on the aircraft's radio, a frying or hissing sound running up and down the musical scale. Related Articles Further Reading.
Published time: 28 Jan, 2016 11:27 The man in this viral video may look like he’s acquired new superpowers worthy of a Marvel movie franchise, but what he’s actually experiencing is the rare natural phenomenon known as St. Elmo’s fire. Footage filmed on Lake Monona in the US city of Madison, Wisconsin this week shows Rudy Moore and a friend experiencing small blue sparks on their finger tips as well as a static noise. Moore’s friend is startled by the rare phenomenon, but he is adamant the answer lies in science. He’s right. The St. Elmo’s fire phenomenon occurs when tiny charges in electricity from an object meet the naturally occurring charges in the air. If the charges in the air are unusually high, often caused by a nearby storm, the clash can be so great that currents ionize and, when combined with nitrogen and oxygen, produce a blue color. In Moore’s case, a snowstorm close by filled the air with the buzz of electricity. Moore and his friend experienced the phenomenon for a few minutes, but told local TV station WISC that when they later returned to the lake, it no longer occurred. The phenomenon is usually seen by pilots when streaks of electricity appear on a plane when flying through a thunderstorm. Sailors used to associate the phenomenon with luck and named it after St. Erasmus, also known as Elmo, the patron saint of sailors. St. Elmo’s Fire is also the title of a 1985 'brat pack' film, which recently made Consequence of Sound’s Worst Movie Ever list, as well as the song by John Parr. WISC meteorologist Bob Lesh confirmed that what Moore experienced was most likely the St. Elmo’s phenomenon, but let’s not rule out that maybe his lineage comes from a galaxy far far away. Or perhaps the electricity is coming from the spirit of Otis Redding and the members of the Bar- Kays who died in a plane crash into Lake Monona. Monona is part of a chain of lakes which includes.
On your next flight, while you sit back, relax and enjoy reading Sky Mall, there is a good chance your flight crew is enjoying their own, shocking light show. Pilots see static discharges dancing on our windshields fairly often. As a passenger, you might be surprised or even concerned at the display. It can be very impressive, but it’s completely harmless. Take a closer look at one of the coolest light shows that pilots experience on the flight deck Too Much Static Electricity Static discharge wicks on a Boeing 767 As an aircraft flies through the sky, air and precipitation rub against the aircraft’s skin causing a buildup of static electricity. The same thing happens when you rub a balloon on your hair. When this electrical charge is strong enough, it can cause static on our radios, interfering with communications. In typical conditions, the charge is continuously dissipated by small, pointed static discharge wicks mounted to the trailing edges of the wings and tail. Most of the aircraft skin is bonded (connected) to the static discharge wicks with the exception of the windshields. When we fly through high altitude ice crystals (cirrus clouds heavy rain, or snow, the static discharge wicks don’t dissipate the “precipitation static” that builds up on the windshields. The precipitation static eventually discharges on its own, providing a fascinating web-like display a few inches in front of us. You’ve seen or heard static discharges around your house. In the winter, when you take a blanket out of the dryer, you can hear the static electricity snap and crackle. If you turn off the lights and give the blanket a shake, harmless sparks can be seen as the excess static discharges. This is the same stuff we see on our windshields. Static electricity discharge on a cockpit windshield © Kent Wien / Flickr / License: CC BY- NC 2.0 Though not nearly as impressive as seeing it.
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