Quote:
Originally Posted by FastDave
WOW!!! Did it strike where the first spark landed or am I watching it backwards???
|
The phenomenon is called "stepped leader". You are not looking at it backwards but all you see happens in miliseconds before the actual strike (where the spark first lands) I'm not an expert but I believe this is the way the lightning bolts searches/finds its actual path (the one of least resistance). The proces happens in "steps" of about 50 to 100 meters.
(Wikipedia if you need more info)
Random pic of a lightningbolt
