Investigating the risk of lightning's pressure blast wave : research article

We investigated the pathology of human trauma associated with lightning's pressure blast wave. Within what range is a human at risk and what are the risks? Two theories for the trauma currently exist: the flash moisture vaporisation theory and the sixth mechanism theory. We performed a simple p...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published inSouth African journal of science Vol. 111; no. 3; pp. 73 - 77
Main Authors Blumenthal, Ryan, West, Nicholas J.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Academy of Science for South Africa (ASSAf) 01.03.2015
Subjects
Barotrauma
Flash moisture vaporisation theory
Keraunomedicine
Keraunopathology
Lightning
Sixth mechanism theory
Online AccessGet full text

Cover

More Information
Summary:We investigated the pathology of human trauma associated with lightning's pressure blast wave. Within what range is a human at risk and what are the risks? Two theories for the trauma currently exist: the flash moisture vaporisation theory and the sixth mechanism theory. We performed a simple proof-of-concept experiment in a high-voltage laboratory to determine which theory makes for better predictions. The experiment confirmed the existence of a non-discriminant pressure blast wave around a spark in air. The lightning data were compared with the known medical data. Findings may now help explain some of the more curious lightning injury patterns seen on lightning-strike victims.
ISSN:0038-2353
1996-7489
DOI:10.17159/sajs.2015/20140187