Vladimir Bychkov, leading researcher at the Faculty of Physics of MSU and chairman of the Russian Committee on Ball Lightning, explained in an interview with RIA "Novosti" what makes ball lightning dangerous and what to do if you encounter it. According to him, every linear lightning strike can generate ball lightning, and their peak appearance in Russia occurs during summer thunderstorms – from June to August.
The scientist described the physical nature of the phenomenon. It is a three-layer structure: inside – boiling gas or melt, outside – an oxide shell about 20 microns thick, plus an electrical charge transferred from linear lightning. The average size is about 20 centimeters, the maximum recorded is up to 100 meters. The energy of such an object is comparable to the energy of several explosives. Its lifespan is about 20 seconds, during which the ball lightning either moves away with the air current, explodes, or extinguishes.
The main danger is its electrical nature. Ball lightning is attracted to switched-on electrical appliances, wires, light bulbs, and power outlets, so they must be turned off. It can also strike a computer or mobile phone – the physicist recommends turning off gadgets and moving them away from yourself. The person themselves is also in danger: due to the fluid in the body and induction, the lightning can be attracted to them. In such a situation, Bychkov advises lying on the ground – then the object may fly past.
The metal body of a car, on the contrary, acts as a Faraday cage: the discharge is distributed over the body and goes into the ground. The scientist recommends that drivers stay in the car and close all windows – the most ball lightning can do is hit the body and melt its surface. The physicist strongly advises against filming the phenomenon with a phone: electromagnetic fields from electronics can attract the plasma object.