Editing Ball lightning (section)

== Characteristics ==
Descriptions of ball lightning vary widely. It has been described as moving up and down, sideways or in unpredictable trajectories, hovering and moving with or against the wind; attracted to,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ernmphotography.com/Pages/Ball_Lightning/BL_Info_10.html |title=BL_Info_10 |publisher=Ernmphotography.com |access-date=13 July 2009 |url-status = dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081222205540/http://www.ernmphotography.com/Pages/Ball_Lightning/BL_Info_10.html |archive-date=22 December 2008 }}</ref> unaffected by, or repelled from buildings, people, cars and other objects. Some accounts describe it as moving through solid masses of wood or metal without effect, while others describe it as destructive and melting or burning those substances. Its appearance has also been linked to [[Electric power transmission|power lines]],{{r|ley196010}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://amasci.com/weird/unusual/blold2.html |title=Unusual Phenomea Reports: Ball Lightning |publisher=Amasci.com |access-date=13 July 2009}}</ref> altitudes of {{convert|1000|ft|m|abbr=in|order=flip}} and higher, and during thunderstorms{{r|ley196010}} and calm weather. Ball lightning has been described as [[Transparency and translucency|transparent]], [[Transparency and translucency|translucent]], multicolored, evenly lit, radiating flames, filaments or sparks, with shapes that vary between spheres, ovals, tear-drops, rods, or disks.<ref>Barry, James Dale: ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=KHdIE3_lv1cC&pg=PA35 Ball Lightning and Bead Lightning: Extreme Forms of Atmospheric Electricity]'', {{ISBN|0-306-40272-6}}, 1980, Plenum Press (p. 35)</ref>

Although they are separate and distinct phenomena,<ref name="Barry">Barry, J.D. (1980a) ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=KHdIE3_lv1cC Ball Lightning and Bead Lightning: Extreme Forms of Atmospheric Electricity]''. 8–9. New York and London: Plenum Press. {{ISBN|0-306-40272-6}}</ref> ball lightning is often erroneously identified as [[St. Elmo's fire]].

The balls have been reported to disperse in many different ways, such as suddenly vanishing, gradually dissipating, being absorbed into an object, "popping," exploding loudly, or even exploding with force, which is sometimes reported as damaging.{{r|ley196010}} Accounts also vary on their alleged danger to humans, from lethal to harmless.

A review of the available literature published in 1972<ref name="Charman">{{cite journal|last=Charman|first=Neil|date=14 December 1972|title=The enigma of ball Lightning|journal=New Scientist|volume=56|issue=824|pages=632–635 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TCTpu1UVFsYC&pg=PA633}}</ref> identified the properties of a "typical" ball lightning, whilst cautioning against over-reliance on eye-witness accounts:
* They frequently appear almost simultaneously with cloud-to-ground lightning discharge
* They are generally spherical or pear-shaped with fuzzy edges
* Their diameters range from {{convert|1|-|100|cm|abbr=in|sigfig=1}}, most commonly {{convert|10|-|20|cm|0|abbr=in}}
* Their brightness corresponds to roughly that of a domestic lamp, so they can be seen clearly in daylight
* A wide range of colors has been observed, with red, orange, and yellow being the most common
* The lifetime of each event is from one second to over a minute with the brightness remaining fairly constant during that time
* They tend to move at a few meters per second, most often in a horizontal direction, but may also move vertically, remain stationary, or wander erratically
* Many are described as having rotational motion
* It is rare that observers report the sensation of heat, although in some cases the disappearance of the ball is accompanied by the liberation of heat
* Some display an affinity for metal objects and may move along conductors such as wires, metal fences, or railroad tracks
* Some appear within buildings passing through closed doors and windows
* Some have appeared within metal aircraft and have entered and left without causing damage
* The disappearance of a ball is generally rapid and may be either silent or explosive
* Odors resembling [[ozone]], burning sulphur, or nitrogen oxides are often reported