| Caption | The lower part of this image is a lightning bolt photographed on the evening of June 6, 2023, near Marfa, Texas. The outlined section is reproduced at the top, magnified and highly processed to bring out subtle details. Note how twisted the fingers of the bolt are. This photo was a long exposure, capturing the entire life cycle of the bolt. The top section captures J-processes, which occur after the initial stepped-leader/first-return-stroke phase when the bright central trunk of the bolt connects to the ground. During J-processes, tiny fingers search for new pockets of charged air near and within the storm cloud. This charge then gets transported back to the central truck, resulting in subsequent return strokes. It's these multiple return strokes that cause the bolt to flicker when seen by the naked eye. | |
| Photo Id | w0866-80e5-e5641 | |
| Date and Time | June 6, 2023 10:17 PM | |
| Location | Marfa, Texas latitude 30° 35' 44.0" N longitude 103° 55' 23.3" W | |
| Licensing | A rights-managed license to use this photo is available. View licensing information Send an e-mail requesting a quote | |
| Model Release | No, but a release may not be required for this photo. | |
| Keywords | lightning, j processes, storm, weather, Davis Mountains, Davis Mountains State Park, Marfa, Alpine, Jeff Davis County, Texas, TX, United States | |
| Questions | Send an e-mail asking a question about this photo. |