ELi5: How does lightning produce light, and how does that light differ from sunlight?

Question

ELi5: How does lightning produce light, and how does that light differ from sunlight?

In: 8

Answer 1

When electrons step down from their valence shell, they emit photons.

When the extreme heat of a lightning strike heats the air around it, countless electrons jump up a valence state. As the heat subsides, the electrons drop a valence state and emit light. This happens so fast that what you see is a bolt.