20:
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Muñoz, Á.G., Núñez, A., Chourio, X., Díaz-Lobatón, J., Márquez, R., Moretto, P., Juárez, M., Casanova, V., Quintero, A., Zurita, D., Colmenares, V., Vargas, L., Salcedo, M.L., Padrón, R., Contreras, L., Parra, H., Vaughan, C., Smith, D., 2015: Reporte Final de la
Expedición Catatumbo: Abril 2015.
212:
Russian researcher Andrei
Zavrotsky investigated the area several times. He concluded that the lightning has several epicenters in the marshes of Juan Manuel de Aguas National Park, Claras Aguas Negras, and western Lake Maracaibo. In 1991, he suggested that the phenomenon occurred due to cold and
276:
and its interactions with predictable climate modes like the ENSO and the
Caribbean Low-Level Jet. The study also showed that the forecast accuracy is significantly higher when an index based on a combination of winds and convective available potential energy (CAPE) is used. The index seems to
228:
in the area were a major cause of the phenomenon. The methane model is based on the symmetry properties of methane. 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
285:
There are several references by colonial
Portuguese and Spanish sources, that name this phenomenon as "Lanterns of Saint Anthony" or the "Lighthouse of Maracaibo", as also noted by Alexander Walker in 1822. Based on M. Palacios book "Viage de Varinas",
826:
Muñoz, Á.G., Díaz-Lobatón, J., 2012: Los Relámpagos del
Catatumbo y el Flujo Energético Medio en la Cuenca del Lago de Maracaibo. Reporte público CMC-GEO-DDI-02-2011. Centro de Modelado Científico. Universidad del Zulia. 12 p. En
943:
72:
area formed where the
Catatumbo River flows into the lake. The phenomenon sees the highest density of lightning in the world, at 250 per km. In summers, the phenomenon may even occur as dry lightning without rainfall.
958:
353:
as an early literary allusion to the lightning (since in another verse the poet does mention
Maracaibo), but it was actually a reference to the glow produced by burning ships during the battle.
192:, enclosing the plain from three sides. The heat and moisture collected across the plains create electrical charges and, as the air masses are destabilized by the mountain ridges, result in
487:
Albrecht, R., et al., 2011. The 13 years of TRMM Lightning
Imaging Sensor: from individual flash characteristics to decadal tendencies. XIV Int. Conf. Atmos. Elec., Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
585:
302:
described it in 1841 as "like a continuous lightning, and its position such that, located almost on the meridian of the mouth of the lake, it directs the navigators as a lighthouse."
556:
273:
1103:
76:
The lightning changes its flash frequency throughout the year, and it is different from year to year. For example, it ceased from
January to March 2010, apparently due to
768:
Muñoz, Á.G.; Díaz-Lobatón, J.; Chourio, X.; Stock, J. (2016). "Seasonal prediction of lightning activity in North
Western Venezuela: Large-scale versus local drivers".
898:
Muñoz, Á.G.; Díaz-Lobatón, J.; Chourio, X.; Stock, J. (2016). "Seasonal prediction of lightning activity in Northwestern Venezuela: Large-scale versus local drivers".
404:
245:
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has investigated the impact of different atmospheric variables on Catatumbo lightning's daily, seasonal and year-to-year variability, finding relationships with the
139:
99:
1045:
1030:
716:
798:
Muñoz, Á.G., Díaz-Lobatón, J., 2011: "The Catatumbo Lightnings: A review", Memoirs of the XIV International Conference on Atmospheric Electricity. Brazil.
176:, toward the west of Lake Maracaibo. The storms are thought to be the result of winds blowing across the lake and the surrounding swampy plains. These
633:
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activity. The phenomenon is characterized by almost continuous lightning, mostly within the clouds. The lightning produces a great quantity of
460:
973:
946:, volume 2, book V, chapter XVI, page 390, note, Casa de Rosa, Paris, 1826; Ediciones del Ministerio de Educación, 2a. ed., Caracas, 1956
659:
213:
warm air currents meeting around the area. The study also speculated that an isolated cause for the lightning might be the presence of
334:. The phenomenon has been known for centuries as the "Lighthouse of Maracaibo", since it is visible for miles around Lake Maracaibo.
607:
1088:
64:
clouds at an altitude of more than 1 km (0.6 mi), and occurs for 140 to 160 nights a year, nine hours per day, and with
733:
Bürgesser, R. E.; Nicora, M. G.; Ávila, E. E. (2012). "Characterization of the lightning activity of "Relámpago del Catatumbo".
249:
499:"Review and Microphysics of the maximum electricity atmospheric activity in the Word: the Catatumbo Lightning (Venezuela)"
1053:
241:
808:
Torrealba, E.; Amador, J. (2010). "La corriente en chorro de bajo nivel sobre los Llanos Venezolanos de Sur América".
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237:
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433:
405:"Eternal Thunder: This Place in Venezuela Has the Highest Concentration of Lightning Strikes in the World"
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flashes from 16 to 40 times per minute. It occurs over and around Lake Maracaibo, typically over a
541:
498:
464:
253:
189:
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Reporte Público CMC-01-2015. Centro de Modelado Científico (CMC). Universidad del Zulia. 20 p.
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1024:
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Albrecht, R. I.; Goodman, S. J.; Buechler, D. E.; Blakeslee, R. J.; Christian, H. J. (2016).
710:
593:
233:
903:
870:
773:
742:
557:"Venezuela's Mysterious Catatumbo Lightning Phenomenon Vanishes for Months, Then Reappears"
1046:"Dislates y Disparates sobre el Relámpago del Catatumbo: La expedición de Drake, de 1595"
8:
928:
Walker, Alexander (1822). «Part 1». Colombia, relación geográfica, topográfica, agrícola
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229:(January–February), and less in the wet season (April–May and September–October).
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1048:[Nonsense about the Catatumbo Lightning: Drake's expedition of 1595].
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Storm Chaser George Kourounis Investigates the Catatumbo Lightning Phenomenon
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Some authors have misinterpreted a reference to a glow in the night sky in
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The phenomenon is depicted on the flag and coat of arms of the state of
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basin up to a few months in advance, based in the variability of the
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A 2016 study showed that it is possible to forecast lightning in the
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65:
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660:"Phenomena – A science salon hosted by National Geographic Magazine"
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Between 1997 and 2000, a series of four studies proposed that the
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Coat of arms of Zulia. The lightning is on the right top quarter.
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221:
214:
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34:) is an atmospheric phenomenon that occurs over the mouth of the
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counts that there are around 250 instances of lightning per km.
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is a topic of disagreement, given the instability of the storm.
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capture well the compound effect of multiple climate drivers.
897:
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181:
61:
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330:, which also contains Lake Maracaibo, and is mentioned in
608:"In Venezuela, nature's most electrifying lightning show"
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Catatumbo lightning occurs over and around Lake Maracaibo
69:
636:[A life dedicated to numbers, Andrés Zavrotsky]
944:
Viage a las Regiones Equinocciales del Nuevo Continente
434:"Drought extinguishes Venezuela's lightning phenomenon"
583:¿Relámpagos del Catatumbo regeneran la capa de ozono?
1094:
735:
Journal of Atmospheric and Solar-Terrestrial Physics
732:
427:
425:
1143:
1029:: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (
829:http://cmc.org.ve/portal/archivo.php?archivo=241
715:: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (
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200:, though whether or not this contributes to the
863:Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society
807:
422:
536:
534:
453:
383:"Fogonazos: Catatumbo, the everlasting storm"
96:Catatumbo lightning usually develops between
1043:
859:"Where are the lightning hotspots on Earth?"
962:, Fournier, Paris, 1841, pp. 20, 464 y 466.
1012:. Archived from the original on 2012-01-29
728:
726:
698:. Archived from the original on 2012-01-29
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483:
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1079:World's first seasonal lightning forecast
1044:Muñoz Garcia, Ángel Vicente (July 2016).
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503:Journal of Atmospheric Science Research
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224:produced by the swamps and the massive
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496:
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347:attack against San Juan de Puerto Rico
1097:World Wide Lightning Location Network
402:
250:convective available potential energy
188:(3,750 m (12,000 ft)), and
180:meet the high mountain ridges of the
60:people. It originates from a mass of
959:Resumen de la Geografía de Venezuela
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634:"Una vida consagrada a los números"
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16:Atmospheric phenomenon in Venezuela
13:
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294:described the lightning in 1826.
263:
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238:Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone
1089:An Everlasting Lightning Storm
916:10.1016/j.atmosres.2015.12.018
786:10.1016/j.atmosres.2015.12.018
555:Guttman, Matt; Robert Rudman.
490:
432:Carroll, Rory (5 March 2010).
375:
1:
1050:Centro de Modelado Científico
497:Falcon, Nelson (2021-05-21).
463:. Real Travel. Archived from
461:"Catatumbo Lightning – Congo"
403:Varga, Tamás (19 July 2022).
368:
991:10.1371/journal.pbio.0040050
677:10.1371/journal.pbio.0040050
640:(in Spanish). Archived from
592:. Agencia de noticias de la
341:'s description in his epic,
274:Lake Maracaibo Low-Level Jet
242:El Niño–Southern Oscillation
52:means "House of Thunder" in
23:Catatumbo lightning at night
7:
1052:. Maracaibo. Archived from
972:Nicholls, H. (2002-10-17).
937:Alexander von Humboldt and
755:10.1016/j.jastp.2012.01.013
658:Nicholls, H. (2002-10-17).
356:
10:
1188:
974:"Lightning Up, 4 Feb 2010"
544:. Wondermondo. 2010-08-21.
248:, and the local winds and
984:(2). Blogs.ngm.com: e50.
884:10.1175/BAMS-D-14-00193.1
846:10.13140/RG.2.1.1351.0566
670:(2). Blogs.ngm.com: e50.
632:Cárdenas, Yamile (1997).
1167:Regional climate effects
385:. Fogonazos.blogspot.com
290:naturalist and explorer
207:
810:Revista de Climatología
516:10.30564/jasr.v4i2.2740
246:Caribbean Low-Level Jet
167:Approximate outer limit
127:Approximate outer limit
48:
32:Relámpago del Catatumbo
1091:, article at Slate.com
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315:
292:Alexander von Humboldt
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84:Location and mechanism
38:where it empties into
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594:Universidad del Zulia
542:"Catatumbo Lightning"
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281:Historical references
234:Universidad del Zulia
91:
22:
1172:Climate of Venezuela
1120:9.34417°N 71.71056°W
902:. 172–173: 147–162.
900:Atmospheric Research
772:. 172–173: 147–162.
770:Atmospheric Research
1115: /
1056:on November 3, 2016
908:2016AtmRe.172..147M
875:2016BAMS...97.2051A
778:2016AtmRe.172..147M
747:2012JASTP..77..241B
606:Maddicks, Russell.
151: /
111: /
28:Catatumbo lightning
1152:Geography of Zulia
1131:Approximate center
1125:9.34417; -71.71056
647:on April 20, 2009.
588:2016-03-05 at the
409:earthlymission.com
332:the state's anthem
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1162:Anomalous weather
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264:Predictability
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252:(CAPE). Using
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161:9.750; -73.000
121:8.500; -71.000
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439:The Guardian
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339:Lope de Vega
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244:(ENSO), the
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226:oil deposits
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194:thunderstorm
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54:the language
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741:: 241–247.
617:23 November
612:www.bbc.com
298:geographer
202:ozonosphere
159: /
119: /
1146:Categories
1129: (
1110:71°42′38″W
1016:2013-02-08
702:2013-02-08
471:2010-07-27
389:2010-07-27
369:References
178:air masses
165: (
125: (
30:(Spanish:
1157:Lightning
1107:9°20′39″N
568:3 January
525:2630-5119
445:3 January
414:23 August
254:satellite
66:lightning
49:Catatumbo
44:Venezuela
1010:16464130
696:16464130
586:Archived
562:ABC News
357:See also
288:Prussian
240:(ITCZ),
1001:1363710
904:Bibcode
871:Bibcode
816:: 1–20.
774:Bibcode
743:Bibcode
687:1363710
349:by Sir
345:of the
296:Italian
222:methane
215:uranium
78:drought
56:of the
1008:
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694:
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256:data,
184:, the
146:73°0′W
143:9°45′N
106:71°0′W
103:8°30′N
1095:WWLLN
645:(PDF)
638:(PDF)
328:Zulia
208:Cause
198:ozone
182:Andes
62:storm
1062:2024
1031:link
1006:PMID
717:link
692:PMID
619:2022
570:2013
521:ISSN
447:2013
416:2022
258:NASA
136:and
58:Bari
996:PMC
986:doi
912:doi
879:doi
842:doi
782:doi
751:doi
682:PMC
672:doi
511:doi
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42:in
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