catatumbo lightning footage

Part 1. In September I finally went back to Venezuela to experience the inI did this for the Weather Channel in order to shoot pictures for a documentary they were s. 2019 Majestic Skies Calendar - http://lightningdude.comThe Lightning Camp in the Heart of Venezuela's Maracaibo Lake is situated just few kilometers South of earth's (by far) most electric place where the Catatumbo Lightning happens. He was tasked with creating accurate maps of the region, including Lake Maracaibo. Catatumbo lightning ( Spanish: Relmpago del Catatumbo) [1] is an atmospheric phenomenon that occurs over the mouth of the Catatumbo River where it empties into Lake Maracaibo in Venezuela. Catatumbo Lightning is most active in the wetter months of September and October, and least active in the drier months of January and February. It occurs on average 260 nights a year and up to 280 times per hour. Efforts are also being made to declare the site as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Experts also claim that the high rates of deforestation seen in the lands around the River Catatumbo have added volumes of silt and sediments into the Lake Maracaibo, which could also potentially reduce the frequency of such lightning strikes in the region in the future. Lightning activity in the eye of a hurricane, as seen in this imagery, is often a sign of rapid intensification. Moisture and heat combine to create electrical charges when the air masses meet the Andes mountains' high ridges, the Perij Mountains . Catatumbo lightning at night. The only apparent unique characteristic of this phemonemon is that the storms form and persist in the same place night after night. Catatumbo Lightning is sometimes referred to as Venezuela's "eternal thunderstorm," or the . In 2010 a severe drought caused by El Nio stopped the constant lightning storms, worrying the areas residents. Wind and heat are crucial for the lightnings display, but so is abundant moisture. 1. The storms (and associated lightning) are likely to be the result of the winds blowing across the Maracaibo Lake and the surrounding swampy plains. ws catatumbo lightning at night / san carlos de zulia, zulia, venezuela - catatumbo lightning stock videos & royalty-free footage The Catatumbo lightning usually develops between coordinates 830N 710W and 945N 730W. The amazing Catatumbo lightning can be seen from far away and was once used by Caribbean sailors as a navigational aid. Discover The lightning capital of the world. For example, it ceased from January to March 2010, apparently due to drought, leading to speculation that it might have been extinguished permanently. Lake Maracaibo tops out at an astonishing 233 lightning flashes per square kilometer per year, making it the absolute lightning hot spot of the world. These months all fall within the wet season in Venezuela. It rages on for up to 10 hours each night. [clarification needed] Other studies have indicated that this model is contradicted by the observed behavior of the lightning, as it would predict that there would be more lightning in the dry season (JanuaryFebruary), and less in the wet season (AprilMay and SeptemberOctober). Find professional Catatumbo videos and stock footage available for license in film, television, advertising and corporate uses. "Phenomena A science salon hosted by National Geographic Magazine", http://cmc.org.ve/portal/archivo.php?archivo=241, "Where are the lightning hotspots on Earth? How to do? "Fogonazos: Catatumbo, the everlasting storm", "Eternal Thunder: This Place in Venezuela Has the Highest Concentration of Lightning Strikes in the World", "Drought extinguishes Venezuela's lightning phenomenon", "Venezuela's Mysterious Catatumbo Lightning Phenomenon Vanishes for Months, Then Reappears", Viage a las Regiones Equinocciales del Nuevo Continente, Dislates y Disparates sobre el Relmpago del Catatumbo: La expedicin de Drake, de 1595. http://www.furiousearth.comStorm Chaser, George Kourounis travels to Lake Maracaibo in Venezuela where a phenomenon known as the Catatumbo Everlasting Lightning storm occurs. In Merida town (a 2,5-kilometer drive south from the lake) you can book an arranged jeep tour, paragliding, horse riding and rafting. In the 20th century, when photos and filming of the storms began to circulate in the media, Venezuelans and especially those in Zulia State adopted the phenomenon as their symbol. The rayo del Catatumbo (Catatumbo lightning), also known as the Faro de Maracaibo (Maracaibo beacon), puts forth an average of 232.52 flashes of lightning per square kilometer each year.. In 1991 he suggested that the phenomenon occurred due to cold and warm air currents meeting around the area. Dec 8, 2016 16K Dislike Share Save Great Big Story 6.07M subscribers Lake Maracaibo, Venezuela, is the unofficial lightning capital of the world. It happens from 7 to 10 hours a day, almost every day (140 to 160 nights a year). Why Is Biodiversity Critical To Life On Earth? I believe the photo below is a time lapse image. of 1. Scientists have ascertained that the Catatumbo lightning develops as a result of storms caused by the strong wind blowing across Lake Maracaibo, which is surrounded by swampy plains. Unlike normal thunderstorms, this thunderstorm always occurs in the same place and can be observed 160 nights per year. Even though previously the mountain village of Kifuka in the Democratic Republic of Congo in Central Africa was know to be the most electric place on Earth, with 158 lightning flashes per square kilometer each year, the Catatumbo lightning has surpassed this figure with 250 lightning flashes per square kilometer each year. Universidad del Zulia. When his family moved to Lake Maracaibo four years later, the epicenter of that eternal storm, he met . The film shows how the fisherman of the village used the lightning to illuminate their night fishing trips, but that environmental degradation, political conflict, and economic decline are turning Congo Mirador into a ghost town. In the 20th century, when it became clear that storms caused the phenomenon, Venezuelans stopped calling it the Maracaibo Beacon and renamed it Catatumbo lightning. Until a few years ago, the village of traditional stilt houses was where tourists gathered to see the Catatumbo lighting. It was a decisive and final victory for the independence of Venezuela. Scientists think the Catatumbo, named for a river that runs into the lake, is normal lightning that just happens to occur far more than anywhere else, due to local topography and wind patterns.. Though its exact origins are still fuzzy, scientists think the Catatumbo's, named for a river that runs into the lake, phenomenon is normal lightning that just happens to occur far more frequently than anywhere else, due to local topography and wind patterns. And the spectacular phenomenon may even be responsible for Venezuela's independence. - CATATUMBO LIGHTNING AND SOUTH OF THE MARACAIBO LAKE, 2 DAYS/ 1 NIGHT. The "Relmpago del Catatumbo" ('Catatumbo lightning') is a unique phenomenon in the world. Sometimes, it even lasts for as long as 10 hours a day, with about 300 lightning strikes every hour. In the video above, it is easy to see how quickly the strikes add up once the storm cells hit the lake. The lightning produces a great quantity of ozone though its instability makes it unlikely that it has any effect on the ozonosphere. Thanks to his lobbying, this year the Catatumbo Lightning was approved for inclusion in the 2015 edition of Guinness World Records, dethroning the Congolese town of Kifuka as the place with the world's most lightning bolts per square kilometer each year at 250. . 2022 Minute Media - All Rights Reserved, 232.52 flashes of lightning per square kilometer, Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission satellite. Dificultad: Easy - All travelers. Centro de Modelado Cientfico. This electric spot, where the Catatumbo River empties into Lake Maracaibo in Venezuela's far northwest, is believed to be the most lightning-struck place on earth. Lake Maracaibo has a . Muoz, .G., Nez, A., Chourio, X., Daz-Lobatn, J., Mrquez, R., Moretto, P., Jurez, M., Casanova, V., Quintero, A., Zurita, D., Colmenares, V., Vargas, L., Salcedo, M.L., Padrn, R., Contreras, L., Parra, H., Vaughan, C., Smith, D., 2015: Reporte Final de la Expedicin Catatumbo: Abril 2015. During this nocturnal phenomenon, there are over 250 strikes per square kilometre and they occur up to . In the evening, cold winds blow down from the mountain peaks and collide with the humid air, forming cumulonimbus clouds. In Venezuela, at the mouth of the Catatumbo River where it meets the Lake Maracaibo, a unique and impressive natural phenomenon, variously known as the "Catatumbo lightning", the "Beacon of Maracaibo" or the "Everlasting Storm", captures the eyes and attention of all observers there to witness it. Download Video Credit: NOAA Media in category "Catatumbo lightning". Catatumbo lightning appears almost every night with average 28 lightning strikes per minute and up to 10 hours at a time. "[9], The phenomenon is depicted on the flag and coat of arms of the state of Zulia, which also contains Lake Maracaibo, and is mentioned in the state's anthem. [23], Coordinates: 92039N 714238W / 9.34417N 71.71056W / 9.34417; -71.71056 (Approximate center), Walker, Alexander (1822). Venezuelan environmentalist Erik Quiroga suggested to the BBC that ozone generated by Catatumbo lightning could replenish the ozone layer. There, warm waters from the Caribbean Sea flow into the lake, where the hot sun draws up moisture into the air and traps it among the slopes. This phenomenon commences one hour after dawn and lasts for 10 hours. Almost 300 nights a year, a lightning storm rages in a small part of Venezuela. [7] Based on M. Palacios book "Viage de Varinas", Prussian naturalist and explorer Alexander von Humboldt described the lightning in 1826. [11], Catatumbo lightning usually develops between .mw-parser-output .geo-default,.mw-parser-output .geo-dms,.mw-parser-output .geo-dec{display:inline}.mw-parser-output .geo-nondefault,.mw-parser-output .geo-multi-punct{display:none}.mw-parser-output .longitude,.mw-parser-output .latitude{white-space:nowrap}830N 710W / 8.500N 71.000W / 8.500; -71.000 (Approximate outer limit) and 945N 730W / 9.750N 73.000W / 9.750; -73.000 (Approximate outer limit). [5] The phenomenon is characterized by almost continuous lightning, mostly within the clouds. In northwest Venezuela, at the place where Lake Maracaibo meets the Catatumbo River, lightning occurs, on average, twenty-eight times per minute for up to nine hours each day after dusk, for around 300 days a year, accompanied by a storm. A two day trip to explore the souther regions of Mrida in our way to Maracibo Lake to discover it's amazing fauna and spend one night to try luck and see the unique phenomenom of the Catatumbo Lightning. Oh no! Here thunder strikes and lightning are predictable and go with an unbroken consistency. Centro de Modelado Cientfico (CMC). Known as the "Relmpago del Catatumbo," (relmpago means lightning in Spanish) this lightning storm has been raging, on and off, for as long as people can remember. As the one place on Earth that has the most lightning, Maracabio Lake in Venezuela, is the topic for this weather wise segment. About Catatumbo Lightning Tour. Best Price Guaranteed Simple licensing. Along the Catatumbo river you can rent a boat and bungalows for overnight. Open Now. The Bari people believe that it is caused by hundreds of supernatural fireflies, while the Wayuu people consider it the work of the souls of the deceased. Using data collected between 1997 and 2015 by NASAs lightning image sensor on its Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission satellite, researchers identified the Catatumbo zone of Lake Maracaibo as the lightning capital of the world. Download this Catatumbo Lightning From A Distance photo now. Tour guide, Alan Highton explains the phenomenon. The village of Catatumbo in northern Venezuela, lies on the shore of Lake . One of the wonders of the world, the Catatumbo lightning is a spectacular sight, and a unique treat for the eyes. Catatumbo Lightning | Photo by Alan Highton - catatumbotour.com While atmospheric conditions that allow for these kinds of lightning strikes can and do occur elsewhere in the world, the Catatumbo River basin produces such fantastic lightning storms that the area holds the record for most lightning strikes to occur in one area. The storms are thought to be the result of winds blowing across Lake Maracaibo and the surrounding swampy plains. The team's predictions were slightly stronger during the minimum season, but in general the skill level was high enough that decision makers in the Lake Maracaibo Basin could use the model for human . There, lightning strikes occur, on average, 300. 20 p. Albrecht, R., et al., 2011. Lightning strikes over Lake Maracaibo in the village of Ologa, in Zulia state, Venezuela, on September 6, 2021. The disappearance of the lightning was apparently due to an El Nio event during this time, which was responsible for a severe drought in Venezuela, when rainfall was extremely scanty and rivers nearly completely dried up. Catatumbo Lightning doesn't actually fire nonstop, but for at least a few centuries, it has occurred around 150 times per year in Venezuela. Conf. On July 24, 1823, the electrical storm acted like a lighthouse for the naval forces of Admiral Jos Prudencio Padilla, who managed to defeat to a squadron of Spanish ships in the battle of Lake Maracaibo. This topographic configuration . Catatumbo lightning, as the phenomenon is called, is as spectacular as it sounds, appearing 5 days out of 6, for hours, with up to nearly 30 lightning strikes per minute! In Venezuela, at the mouth of the Catatumbo River where it meets the Lake Maracaibo, a unique and impressive natural phenomenon, variously known as the "Catatumbo lightning", the "Beacon of Maracaibo" or the Everlasting Storm, captures the eyes and attention of all observers there to witness it. But ngel Muoz, now an associate research scientist at Columbia Universitys International Research Institute for Science and Society, told a Venezuelan newspaper in 2014 that the time it would take for the ozone produced by the Catatumbo lightningto ascend to the ozone layer is at least six months, so we do not see a viable mechanism for it to contribute to the regeneration of the planetary ozone layer.. At about 250 lightning flashes per square kilometer per year, the Lake Maracaibo Basin in northwestern Venezuela has the highest annual lightning rate of any place in the world. According to NASA, the energy released during just 10 minutes of Catatumbo lightning could illuminate the whole of South America. How the lightning forms. The sky ignites just after the sun sets, and it continues until sun-up . The region endures more than 160 storm nights a year. April to November is the best time to see Catatumbo Lightning. _Mehr auf:http://gewitterjagd.nethttp://facebook.com/gewitterjagdhttp://facebook.com/gewitterjagdteamhttp://twitter.com/gewitterjagd However, as of yet, in the absence of sufficient proof, it is though that a combination of various factors, including the land topography and wind patterns, could be responsible for the everlasting storm. One such spectacular natural event is the Catatumbo Lightning in the lesser-known area of north-western Venezuela, where the Catatumbo River meets Lake Maracaibo. They poke fun The locals in the area are often alarmed when the lightning stops, even if for a while, as the lightnings have become such a regular part of their daily life, acting like a natural lighthouse guiding their direction in the darkness. Located on the mouth of the Catatumbo river at Lake Maracaibo (Venezuela), the phenomenon is a cloud-to-cloud lightning that forms a voltage arc more than five kilometre high during 140 to 160 nights a year, 10 hours a night, and as many as 280 times an hour. When is the Best Time to See Catatumbo Lightning? Find Catatumbo Lightning stock video, 4k footage, and other HD footage from iStock. Elec., Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Browse 27 catatumbo lightning stock photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. Great video footage that you won't find anywhere else. Lightning strikes over Lake Maracaibo in the village of Ologa, where the Catatumbo River feeds into the lake, in the western state of Zulia October 23, 2014. Though the Catatumbo lightning returned back to the region in April of 2010, there were fears that such an event of its disappearance is going to become more frequent in the future due to the looming threat of climatic change all over the world. Another hypothesis was that methane released from the oil fields in the region could also be responsible for the Catatumbo lightnings. Catatumbo means "House of Thunder" in the language of the Bari people. Nasa, the village of Catatumbo in northern Venezuela, where the Catatumbo &!, and catatumbo lightning footage continues until sun-up as seen in this imagery, is often a sign of rapid.. Year and up to in category & quot ; or the for the lightnings display, so! Made to declare the site as a UNESCO World Heritage site a severe drought caused by El Nio stopped constant... 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