8. Electrical Storms and Salt Lightning

Combining the large expanse of the salt flat with unusual atmospheric conditions at high altitude produces amazing electrical storm displays unlike anywhere else on planet. Unusual electrical field patterns produced by the flat, conductive surface of the salt affect the direction of lightning across the terrain. Visitors can observe amazing lightening displays that seem to dance across the mirror-like surface of the flooded salt flat, generating double images in the reflected water during the wet season, when thunderstorms roll across the salt flat.


The great mineral richness and conductivity of the salt flat have been shown to affect the behaviour of electrical discharges, occasionally leading to unusual events such ball lightning and sprite lightning above the flat. The combination of the completely level horizon and the reflective surface enables researchers to view these electrical events from very wide distances, thereby offering special chances to investigate atmospheric electricity and lightning generation.
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