what causes lightning?

Question

anonymous · Answer

Dry air usually causes it

ryjhbl · Answer

Lightning is produced in thunderstorms when liquid and ice particles above the freezing level collide, and build up large electrical fields in the clouds. Once these electric fields become large enough, a giant "spark" occurs between them (or between them and the ground) like static electricity, reducing the charge separation. The lightning spark can occur between clouds, between the cloud and air, or between the cloud and ground . http://www.weatherquestions.com/What_causes_lightning.htm

radar · Answer

A convincing example of the power of static electricity.

nincompoop · Answer

maybe it's really time to do a research about this topic and expand our knowledge, because it is clearly not known what causes lightning

anonymous · Answer

Its known.. but ofcourse the physics of lightning is very complicated, and incomplete.. 

when rain drops are moving through clouds, due to friction, the clouds tend to get charged up. This charge produces an electric field. If the electric field is strong enough to rip off electrons from the air molecules, then the air undergoes a breakdown, 
and a channel is created .. this channel contains only ions (plasma ) which is highly conducting.. this allows for the discharge of the cloud which we call as lightening

nincompoop · Answer

smh