Why is some thunder longer than others?
In: 57
The duration of thunder can be affected by the shape of the lightning bolt that created it. When a bolt strikes, different parts of it are at different distances from you. The top of the bolt in the clouds is likely further away from you than the part striking the ground, and bolts may be in various directions, may zig-zag and fork. In any case, all those different regions of the bolt superheat the air they touch, creating thunder. You’ll hear the thunder from the closest part of the bolt first, and it’ll rumble along until the sound from the furthest point reaches you.
In short, thunder will be longer as the distance increases from the closest point of the bolt to you and the furthest.
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