A lightning strike is a display of immense natural power, delivering a massive surge of electrical energy in mere milliseconds. Direct exposure to such a phenomenon can result in immediate visible consequences for the human body.
The Immediate Moment of Impact
The blinding flash is accompanied by a deafening clap of thunder, which is the sound of the air rapidly expanding as it’s superheated by the lightning bolt. The energy can cause an instantaneous physical reaction, often throwing the individual through the air or inducing severe muscle contractions.
Rapid heating of moisture on the skin or within clothing can cause it to vaporize explosively. This swift transformation of water to steam may result in clothing being ripped or shredded, and even shoes being blown off the feet. Smoke or steam might rise from the body.
Distinctive Skin Marks and Burns
Lichtenberg figures, also known as keraunographic marks, are a unique sign of a lightning strike. These fern-like or tree-like patterns are reddish and temporary, appearing on the skin within an hour of the strike and fading within 24 to 48 hours. They are not true burns but result from the damage and leakage of superficial capillaries due to the electrical current passing near the skin’s surface.
Lightning strikes can also cause various types of burns. Linear burns can appear as lines on the body, resulting from the rapid vaporization of sweat or rainwater on the skin. Punctate burns, which are clustered circular marks, may occur where the current exits the body or as it passes through the skin. They can occur if synthetic fabrics or metal objects on the body become superheated and melt onto the skin.
Other Visible Bodily Changes
Beyond skin marks, a lightning strike can visibly affect other parts of the body. The eyes may show signs of trauma, with temporary or even permanent vision changes possible. A unique, visible consequence can be the formation of “lightning cataracts,” which are star-shaped opacities that might develop in the lens of the eye, sometimes months after the incident.
The ears are also susceptible to visible injury due to the accompanying pressure wave. A ruptured eardrum, which may manifest as bleeding from the ear canal, is a common occurrence in over 50% of lightning strike survivors. Hair on the body can appear singed or burnt from the intense heat generated. Additionally, the immediate shock and disruption to the body’s systems can leave a survivor appearing pale or disoriented.
The Science Behind the Visible Effects
The visible effects of a lightning strike stem from the rapid interaction of massive electrical current, intense heat, and powerful pressure waves with the human body. Lightning delivers millions of volts and thousands of amperes of electricity, albeit for an extremely brief duration, often only microseconds. This electrical surge can disrupt the body’s natural electrical signals, affecting the nervous system and causing involuntary muscle contractions.
The body’s resistance to this current generates extreme heat, reaching temperatures hotter than the surface of the sun in the lightning channel itself. This rapid heating vaporizes sweat and other moisture, creating steam explosions that contribute to the tearing of clothing and the expulsion of footwear. The sudden expansion of superheated air around the lightning channel also creates a powerful shockwave, which is heard as thunder. This pressure wave can cause physical displacement of the individual and contribute to injuries like eardrum rupture.