Condign volumes 1 to 3

Read from the scan by GLM-OCR; expect the odd misread word.

- Effect on Humans

- Effect on the Environment

- Effect on Equipment

- Odours

- Electrical/Chemical theory

Ball Lightning decays in a variety of ways - see Sounds/Colours, below.

3. Ball Lightning is believed to be formed from an 'ordinary' flash of lightning for which the familiar 'electrical' storms are a generator. However, it can also occur without the presence of a storm or of visible/conventional lightning. Apart from these conditions, once present, the 'balls' or 'beads' can last for a few seconds up to minutes. Ball lightning can enter rooms (usually through apertures (e.g. chimneys, doors, windows) and can either leave by the same method or dissipate within the enclosed space. Instances have been reported where ball lightning has entered aircraft (BOAC 1938 and TWA 1948 Easter Airlines 1963, USAF KC97 in 1960 and in Russia). In Europe 65% of all reports identified as ball lightning occur in the summer months. 95% are reported in the hours 1300-2359 hours and mostly clustered in the period 1600-2000 hours. It has even been seen in snow. Frequently the effect has been reported in the vicinity of marshes, volcanoes (lee-side) and during earthquakes. The balls/globes appear in rain, in clear skies, in still conditions or wind, move against the wind, can be vortex associated, in snow, near the ground and at altitude. Undoubtedly the largest occurrence is during storms/cyclonic conditions. Conditions for ball lightning formation appear to be:

- Charge particle connected

- Frictional action of dust (hence Volcanic links)

- Dependent on the presence of very high electrical charges and fields

- Possibly dependent on the formation of natural EM radiation

- Emitted from a 'bend' in conventional lightning

- Drop from clouds (initially)

On occasions ball lightning has no apparent connection with a storm. It can also leave a meteor-like trail.

4. Bead Lightning Bead lightning (515%) is much less prevalent than ball lightning (85-95%) and is the residue of cloud-to-cloud or cloud to surface lightning strokes where a row of balls are seen separated by darker regions in a string-like form. Bead lightning is generally observed at a distance, in contrast to ball lightning which is observed nearby. As for ball lightning, the incidence of the occurrence of bead lightning is quite low. One survey found only 1600 reports between 1850 and 1978! Bead lightning is also sometimes called 'pearl' lightning. Some 'strings' have been reported as quasi-sinusoidal in form, while elongation of the beads (or balls) suggests sausage or cigar-shapes [often a feature of UAP reports].

5. Most reports of ball and bead lightning occur at low altitude - most probably because that is the location of most observers; hence this limitation may not be true in practice (see para. 22 below). Insufficient evidence exists to be certain of all the conditions for ball and bead lightning formation. No single theory appears to satisfy all the criteria. The ball is sometimes seen with a halo.

6. Ball lightning is sometimes mistakenly reported as St. Elmo's fire.

## SHAPES, SIZES AND STRUCTURES

7. On some occasions bead lightning often described as a 'string of sausages' (i.e. elongated beads), converts or 'breaks off' into a single glowing ball as the pinching effect which separates the components disappears, leaving a single glowing ball (or balls). Shapes are invariably described as globes. Sometimes flames seem to be revolving inside the globe. On rare occasions, two balls have been reported linked together (a metre or two apart), while on others oval, or pear-shaped forms are reported. On even rarer occasions 'torus' and