New study reveals increase in lightning intensity in the Eastern Mediterranean region due to climate crisis and dangers to marine infrastructure and gas rigs
The Mediterranean Sea, once considered a calm and peaceful sea, is becoming an increasingly dangerous environment. The climate crisis is causing an increase in the frequency and intensity of lightning strikes, which is casting a heavy shadow over the region's maritime infrastructure. New research reveals the link between the climate crisis and this dangerous meteorological phenomenon, and highlights the urgent need for improved protection of maritime facilities.
Super Lightning
Lightning is Meteorological phenomenon of the breakdown of electric charge, between the clouds themselves or between the clouds and the ground. Dr. Mustafa Asfour, a senior lecturer in the Faculty of Marine Sciences at the Ruppin Academic Center, explains the complex process that occurs in storm clouds: "Strong winds that rise up charge the cloud with an electric charge by increasing collisions between ice particles that are charged with a positive electric charge when they rise, and with a negative charge when they fall. As a result, an electric potential is created between an area with a negative charge and an area with a positive charge. When the electric field overcomes the resistance of the air, and the electric current passes, the electric charge is discharged from the base of the cloud to the surface or to the ground or to the sea, in the form of an electric current - lightning. "This impressive phenomenon is particularly dangerous due to the strength of the electric current that is transmitted in the form of a huge electric shock to the surface. It is deadly and disastrous for humans, animals or structures that the lightning may strike. "The electrical voltage between the base of the cloud and the surface can reach 20 to 100 million volts," he explains. For comparison - the household outlet reaches about 220 volts. "Due to the great strength of the electric current, the air in the lightning channel heats up to temperatures of over 27,000 degrees Celsius."
Rising sea surface temperatures due to the climate crisis are already leading to extreme weather, particularly in the eastern Mediterranean, which is considered a climate change "hot spot". While most lightning activity occurs over land areas, Their strength is higher. Above the surface of the sea and oceans. The Mediterranean Sea is a special case: "In the eastern Mediterranean Sea, there is activity of particularly powerful lightning called 'superlightning'. This is lightning with an extremely high electric current intensity that results, among other things, from the chemical properties of the seawater. 30 percent of all superlightning in the world occurs in the Mediterranean Sea," explains Asfor.
According to National Mediterranean Sea Monitoring Report for 2023The Mediterranean Sea is warming at a rate of 0.12 degrees Celsius per year – double what the World Climate Organization expects. Aspour’s research shows that the combined effects of the climate crisis may have caused an increase in the intensity of lightning in our region. study A recently published study, co-authored by Asfor, analyzed lightning activity along Israel's coast, particularly in Israel's exclusive economic zone, and its potential impact on the safety of marine infrastructure exposed to lightning. "We saw that there is very vigorous [lightning] activity in this area. This can affect general marine activity such as gas rigs, commercial shipping, aquaculture, and more," he explains.
Sour or salty
"The chemical properties of seawater have a huge impact on the intensity of lightning, not necessarily on the frequency of lightning," says Asfor. study Another study led by Asfor showed that the salinity, acidity, and alkalinity of the water have a strong effect on lightning activity over the Mediterranean Sea. Alkalinity is a measure of the water's ability to neutralize acidity and maintain a stable pH level. "These properties increase the electric field between the sea surface and the cloud base, resulting in a very strong electric current being discharged from the cloud base to the sea surface. The intensity of lightning increases as the salinity of the seawater increases, because the salts dissolved in the water conduct electricity more efficiently than the ground," Asfor explains. It was also found under laboratory conditions that the intensity of lightning also increased in an experiment in which the acidity of the water was higher than normal, as well as in an experiment in which the overall alkalinity of the water was higher than normal.
In addition, warmer areas in the Mediterranean Sea were found to show increased lightning activity. "Increased amount Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, which is causing climate warming and an increase in the rate of evaporation of seawater, along with limiting the flow of water from rivers such as the Nile into the Mediterranean Sea, is expected to lead to an increase in the acidity, salinity, and alkalinity of the water. The combined effect of these changes will cause an increase in the intensity of lightning in the Mediterranean Sea and may have caused this since The Nile River".
What about the rigs?
"The increase in salinity and acidity of seawater could increase the intensity of lightning strikes in Israel's exclusive economic zone in the Mediterranean Sea by 25 percent by 2050, increasing the risk to poorly protected marine infrastructure," says Asfor. Unlike previous studies that focused primarily on lightning activity in land areas, the study focuses on the consequences of powerful lightning strikes for infrastructure that is in contact with the sea. "Strong lightning arresters must be designed from an engineering perspective that can direct the electrical current to the ground or the sea without breaking into the electrical system of marine facilities. Currently, the possibility of directing lightning from the cloud base by laser to remote locations is being examined in order to prevent lightning strikes from damaging the various facilities," he explains. "The international standard requires the design of lightning protection systems with a maximum intensity of 200 kA (kiloamperes), and based on an analysis of lightning measurements in Israel's economic waters and the frequency of lightning with an intensity higher than 200 kA, we recommend designing lightning protection systems that can withstand peak currents of up to 400 kA." Lightning protection systems are installed and in place in Israel according to ISO - XNUMX which applies to buildings and facilities. While it is a mandatory standard in legislation, it is not an official standard and, according to Asfor, it is outdated and hardly ever implemented properly.
The study highlights the importance of understanding lightning patterns in the Eastern Mediterranean region. According to Asfour, the increased lightning activity in our region should be taken into account in future planning of human activity and infrastructure. "On the northern coasts, for example, more lightning activity was observed than in the southern region. This type of data can help determine facilities desalination", aquaculture, gas rigs and any other activity," he concludes.
More of the topic in Hayadan:
