Ball Lightning witness Survey

If you are a witness to a ball lightning event, your contribution may help further our understanding of this fascinating phenomenon. Please read the following before proceeding:

  • If your account is already placed at WEIRD SCIENCE PAGE database of BALL LIGHTNING REPORTS before January 2007, your information has already been entered and you need no fill in this form.
  • If you have not witnessed a ball lightning event, please do not fill out the survey.
  • Please use the radio buttons wherever possible. Information in the text boxes is harder to analyze.
  • Ignore boxes and radio buttons when irrelevant, or if memory fails.

All information is kept strictly confidential. No one will contact you unless specified otherwise by you.

Have you seen more than one event?

Yes
No

If "Yes", generate new survey forms for each additional event you recall, after completing this one.

How many Ball Lightning occurrences have you seen?:

(In numerals ex: 2 or 4)

Gender

Female
Male

Level of education:
(Education level does NOT determine quality of observation. This data is for statistical purposes.)

Less than 9th grade
9th to 12th grade, no completion
High school completion (includes equivalency)
Some college, no degree
Associate degree
Bachelor's
Master's
Professional
Doctorate

Your present age:

Younger - 10
11 - 15
16 - 22
23 - 33
34 - 55
55 +

Your age when event occurred

Younger - 10
11 - 15
16 - 22
23 - 33
34 - 55
55 +

Before the event, were you aware of Ball Lightning phenomena?

Yes
No

Aside from yourself, were there other witnesses to this event?:

Yes
No

If "Yes", how many? (If not known, just type "many")

Remembrance quality:

Crystal clear
Somewhat clear
Fragmentary

Geographic location of event.
If in AIRCRAFT or SURFACE CRAFT, type "aircraft" or "surface craft" in 'Street' box:

Street (if applicable)
City (if applicable)
State/Province
Zip/Postal Code
Country

Season:

Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

If you can closely recall actual date and time, enter as accurately as possible:

-- mm/dd/yy

Time of occurrence:

(Example: 02:10) am pm

Weather - Select any of the following options that apply:

Clear
Clear/distant cloud
Cloudy
Cloudy/distant clear
Drizzle
Hail
Rain
Thunder
Lightning
Wind
Snow
Blizzard
Other

If other, describe:


Estimated inside temperature, if inside area is relevant:

Fahrenheit or Celsius

Estimated outside temperature, if outside area is relevant:

Fahrenheit or Celsius

Other atmosphere temperature notations:

 

More than one ball lightning in this event? Yes No

Description of ball lightning (Multi choice):

Blue
Green
Yellow
Pink
Red
Orange
White
Emitting sparks
Rotating
Spinning
Whirling
Other

If other distinguishing features of ball(s), describe briefly:


Changing - color to color

If changing, what colors? (In sequence)

 

While ball is stable:
Absolute  luminosity. Allowing for distance haze, etc. - how bright was the ball lightning?

Very dim - hardly visible
dull, but quite visible
As bright as a 100w incandescent light bulb
Very bright, like a spotlight
Brilliantly bright; left afterimage.
Blindingly bright, had to turn away

 

What diameter was the ball lightning?

Smaller than 1"
1 - 2"
2 - 3"
3 - 4"
4 - 6"
6" - 1ft
1 - 1.5ft
1.5 - 2ft
2 - 3ft
Larger

If larger, type approximate diameter in feet (If no frame of reference, type "huge"):

Changed size - from size to size. Write in feet and/or inches:

Ball Lightning occurred:
Example: Started outside, then came inside.."Exterior-interior"

Interior
Interior-exterior
Interior-exterior-interior
Exterior
Exterior-interior
Exterior-interior-exterior

Travel behavior (select applicable):

Passing through closed windows
Passing through open windows/doors
Passing through walls/closed doors

Other travel behavior

Ball Lightning closest proximity to observer (select applicable):

Considerable distance, no frame of reference. Could not determine ball actual size
Some distance, but could determine ball size
Close proximity. Close enough to see detail
Very close - close enough to touch*
Ball came into contact with observer*

*If very close or ball made physical contact:
Did ball give off heat? Yes No
Did ball cause static charge? Yes No

*If ball made contact:
Did ball collapse upon contact? Yes No
Did ball shock? Yes No
Did ball burn? Yes No
Did ball pass through you? Yes No
Upon contact, did ball elicit any other sensation? Yes No

Describe other contact sensation

Ball lightning velocity of travel:

Stationary
1 - 2 Inch/sec
2 - 4 Inches/sec
4 -12 Inches/sec
1- 2ft/sec
2 - 5ft/sec
5 - 10ft/sec
10 - 20ft/sec
20 - 40ft/sec
1 - 5mile/hr
5 - 10 miles/hr
10 - 20 miles/hr
20 - 40 miles/hr

Other speed

Variable speeds - specify

Initial distance from ground:

On ground
Less than 1ft
1-2ft
2-4ft
4-6ft
6-10ft
10-15ft
15-20ft
20-30ft
30-40ft
40-50ft
50-100ft
100-200ft
200ft or more

Altitude height when ball disappears:

On ground
Less than 1ft
1-2ft
2-4ft
4-6ft
6-10ft
10-15ft
15-20ft
20-30ft
30-40ft
40-50ft
50-100ft
100-200ft
200ft or more

How long did Ball lightning event last?:

Split second
1 sec
Several  seconds
Many seconds
Half a minute
Over half a minute
Almost a minute
A minute
More than a minute
Almost two minutes
Two minutes
Several minutes
Five minutes

Longer still - specify minutes/seconds

If electrical objects/appliances were involved (check those that apply):

High power lines
Transformer (on electric pole)
Wire (electric poles)
Electrical outlet
TV
Radio
Car radio
Auto battery
Auto radio Antenna
Air conditioner

Other relevant objects - electrical, appliances, furniture, window frame, etc.,

Sound during travel (check those that apply):

Sizzle, crackle
Hiss
Popping
Humming
Silent

Other sound:

Smell:

None
Arced
Sweet
Charred/burning
Ozone

Disappearance

Disappeared when touched a surface/with sound*
Disappeared when touched a surface/without sound
Disappeared in mid-air/with sound*
Disappeared in mid-air/without sound
Observation obscured

*Discharge sound and appearance (If not applicable, skip)

Discharged with thunderous, blinding explosion that created shockwave
Discharged with thunderous explosion with no shockwave
Sounded like a fire-cracker or gun discharging
Disappeared with a "Pop!"
Disappeared hissing, sizzling

Dissipated in a shower of sparks? Yes No

Other discharge sound:


 

Discharge luminosity, if observed:
Absolute  luminosity. Allowing for distance haze, etc. - how bright was the discharge?

Very dim - hardly visible
dull, but quite visible
As bright as a 100w incandescent light bulb
Very bright, like a spotlight
Brilliantly bright; left afterimage.
Blindingly bright, had to turn away

 

Please feel free to write your account if you feel that the above parameters are insufficient:

If you would allow our researchers to contact you for details, all information will be kept strictly confidential:

First Name
Last Name
E-mail

Ignore - For administrative purposes only

 


Copyright 2007 Ball Lightning Research Center. All rights reserved.
Revised: 04/10/07