Yes, brown lightning is real, although the "brown" color is more accurately described as a brownish tint and depends on several factors.
Understanding Lightning Color
The color we perceive lightning to be isn't just white or blue. Several factors influence the apparent color, including:
- Distance: Farther lightning strikes are more likely to appear brown, pink, or purple due to the scattering of light particles over a longer distance.
- Atmospheric Conditions: Dust, moisture, and other particles in the air can scatter different wavelengths of light. A higher concentration of particles can give lightning a brownish or reddish appearance.
- Observer Perception: Individual perception can also play a role in how the color is perceived.
The Brownish Tint Explanation
When lightning strikes, the intense energy excites air molecules. The color we see results from the emission spectra of these excited molecules. However, particles in the atmosphere can scatter some of these wavelengths.
- Scattering: Scattering affects shorter wavelengths (blue and violet) more than longer wavelengths (red and orange).
- Dust and Particles: When dust or other particulate matter is present, particularly during dust storms, the scattering effect can filter out the blue and shorter wavelengths, leaving a higher proportion of red and orange, which mixed together can give a brownish appearance.
Therefore, while lightning itself doesn't emit brown light, the scattering of light by atmospheric particles can cause it to appear brownish.
Conclusion
Brown lightning isn't a specific type of lightning. It's a visual effect caused by atmospheric conditions that filter and scatter the light emitted by a lightning strike. The distance from the lightning and the amount of dust or particles in the air will influence if the lightning appears to have a brownish tint.
