Circle Lightning?

[Jeremy Den Hartog]

Hey guys, first of all this isn't my picture - it was posted on a forum of mine which I created for the town I live in (Mankato, MN) and was posted by a member who's friend took this picture. This was apparently taken during the Chicago blizzard several weeks ago. I don't know if there is a term for lightning like this - circle lighting? I've never seen something like this before though and I'm assuming its not very common?

Here is the pic

 

[Jeff Duda]

It could just be an optical illusion associated with the perspective of the camera. First of all the picture doesn't look to be of that high quality, and given the low ceilings it's possible that one of those fingers actually extends well into the cloud. The loop could merely be a nearly closed loop that appears closed based on the angle between the camera and the plane of the loop. It would be something interesting if such a short-path circuit formed in that area, though.

 

[Chip Redmond]

Hmm, interesting. I don't see how the charges in a cloud would allow for a circle to complete a discharge. It would be like connecting two negative charges or positives... If anything I would say its an optical illusion of lightning at two slightly different heights appearing to complete a circle.

Two things dont match up also. Was there really THAT much lightning in the blizzard? Also, those tree branches are quite upright for evergreens. They sure appear as deciduous with leaves on them. Seems kinda fishy.

Chip

 

[Dan Robinson]

Likely a photoshop hoax - first red flags are the reports that it was taken in Chicago a few weeks ago during the snowstorm. This image has been circulating on the web for years, a Tineye search turns up a copy from at least 2007. Second, those bolts look to be at least a few miles away. Even close lightning channels during a blizzard aren't usually visible due to the heavy snow. While there are documented examples of return stroke channels taking alternate paths then re-joining the main channel, there is no physical way for an independent circle to be formed.

 

[Chip Redmond]

Looks like Jeff beat me to the idea

 

[Jeremy Den Hartog]

Hmm, interesting. I don't see how the charges in a cloud would allow for a circle to complete a discharge. It would be like connecting two negative charges or positives... If anything I would say ots an optical illusion of lightning at two slightly different heights appearing to complete a circle.

Two things dont match up also. Was there really THAT much lightning in the blizzard? Also, those tree braches are quite upright for evergreens. They sure appear as deciduous with leaves on them. Seems kinda fishy.

Chip

Thats true about the trees - I have no idea of authenticity of the pic (or how much lighting was in that snow storm since I wasn't there myself ). I could try to do some digging and find out if its possible to get additional pics from the area to verify that it was in fact taken when they said it was taken (since I'm assuming the image taker wouldn't have just taken this one pic). As far as optical illusion, that of course is a possibility also. In theory is it possible for something like this to happen?

 

[Jeremy Den Hartog]

Ok, lol - my question was answered as I was posting - thanks guys