Abstract

TORRES-SANCHEZ, Horacio. Humboldt and the Catatumbos Lightning. Rev. acad. colomb. cienc. exact. fis. nat. [online]. 2019, vol.43, n.168, pp.382-387. ISSN 0370-3908.  https://doi.org/10.18257/raccefyn.980.

This article presents to the international academic community the results of several years of research on the phenomenon of lightning, within the PAAS-UN research group of the National University of Colombia, specifically the so-called Catatumbo's lightning. This meteorological phenomenon occurs from the southern area of Lake Maracaibo in Venezuela to the lower basin of the Catatumbo River and beyond, in Colombia, where its name comes from. The meteorological phenomenon has a historical interest associated to Prussian traveler Alexander von Humboldt who learned of his activity during his explorations at the end of the 18th century, and a scientific interest, as it the Catatumbo region is considered to have the highest lightning activity in the world.

Keywords : Lightning; Alexander von Humboldt; Catatumbo.

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