50 Years Ago Earth

50 years ago, the sun’s influence on Earth’s lightning was revealed

Excerpt from the June 22, 1974 issue of Science News

lightning and purple sky over Monument Valley in Arizona

Cyclical bursts of solar radiation seem to enhance lightning strikes on Earth, mounting evidence suggests. But the mechanism remains unclear.

DeepDesertPhoto/RooM/Getty Images

By Cassie Martin

Cover of Science News' June 22, 1974 issue

Lightning and the sun — Science News, June 22, 1974

The latest addition to the growing list of meteorological phenomena which have been linked with solar activity is lightning….