St Elmos fire
Wall Art and Photo Gifts from Science Photo Library
St Elmos fire
St Elmos fire. Historical artwork of St Elmos fire glowing from the tops of a ships masts. St Elmos fire is a continuous electrical discharge that occurs towards the end of thunderstorms. The air between the surface and the clouds becomes strongly electrically charged. The electrical fields are most intense at the tips of pointed objects, such as a ships masts. These very strong electrical fields ionise, or excite, the air molecules, changing them to a plasma state and causing them to release energy as light, resulting in a glow. The ship in this illustration is Christopher Columbuss caravel
Science Photo Library features Science and Medical images including photos and illustrations
Media ID 6468507
© SHEILA TERRY/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY
1400s 15th Century Christopher Columbus Discharge Discharging Electrical Glowing History Of Science Ionising Mast Masts Meteorological Meteorology Plasma Sailing Ship Ship Thunder Storm Weather Caravel Caravelle Physical
EDITORS COMMENTS
This historical artwork captures the mesmerizing phenomenon known as St Elmos fire, illuminating the tops of a ship's masts. In this 15th-century illustration, we witness the awe-inspiring display of a continuous electrical discharge that occurs during thunderstorms' final moments. As the air between the surface and clouds becomes highly charged with electricity, it is at its most intense around pointed objects like ships' masts. The powerful electrical fields present in these areas ionize or excite air molecules, transforming them into a plasma state and releasing energy in the form of light. The result is an enchanting glow that emanates from these elevated points on sailing vessels such as Christopher Columbus's caravel depicted here. This artwork not only showcases this rare meteorological occurrence but also provides insight into our understanding of science throughout history. It serves as a reminder of how early explorers like Columbus navigated through unpredictable weather conditions while witnessing natural wonders like St Elmos fire. As we admire this piece, let us marvel at both its artistic beauty and scientific significance—a testament to humanity's perpetual curiosity about our world and its intricate workings.
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