Types of Lightning
Generally speaking, there are four different types of lightning, but within those categories there are numerous sub-types, some of which are extremely rare. Some of these more minor categories include, but are not limited to ball lightning, heat lightning, bead lightning, sheet lightning, silent lightning, black lightning, ribbon lightning, colored lightning, tubular lightning, meandering lightning, stratospheric lightning, red sprites, blue jets, and elves.
The four major categories of lightning are:
1. Intra-Cloud
2. Cloud to Cloud
3. Cloud to Ground
4. Cloud to air
Intra Cloud (IC) Lightning
Intra-cloud lightning is the most commonly occuring form of lightning. It occurs when oppositely charged regions of the same cloud interact. Most often the process takes place within the cloud and looks from the outside like a diffuse flickering light within the cloud. Sometimes the lightning may exit the cloud and a bright flash similar in appearance to a cloud to ground flash may be visible.
Photo courtesy of Jack Corso, Thunderhead Int'l
Cloud to Cloud (CC) Lightning
Inter-cloud lightning results from an exchange of charge between oppositely charged regions of separate clouds.
Photos courtesy of www.strikingimages.com
Cloud to Ground (CG) Lightning
Cloud to ground lightning is by far the most dangerous and damaging form of lightning. It is not the most common form of lightning but it is the most understood of all the different types
Photo courtesy of www.strikingimages.com
Cloud to Air (CA) Lightning
Cloud to air lightning usually happens when the air around a positively charged cloud exchanges with the negatively charged air around it. If this type of lightning occurs in the lower part of the cloud it's because it's happening in combination with CG lightning. The CA blots appear as fingers shooting off from the main CG bolt. This happens because the difference in charge is much greater between the cloud and the ground than it is between the cloud and the air around it.
Photos courtesy of www.strikingimages.com
Bonus photo
Photo courtesy of www.strikingimages.com
This is a photograph of a what is known as ball lightning. Ball lightning refers to mobile luminous spheres sometimes observed during thunderstorms. Most observations of ball lightning are made during thunderstorm activity, within a few meters of the ground. A typical ball lightning is about as big as an orange or grapefruit, and lasts a few seconds. Visual sightings are often accompanied by sound, odor, and permanent material damage.