Image: Aero Hispano Blog
In ancient times, if you sailed frequently, it was very easy for you to end up meeting what ended up being called the Fire of San Telmo, that fire that seemed to never burn and that allowed you to continue your course without major complications.
But What is it really and how is it formed?
The fire of San Telmo can be defined as the luminous glow reminiscent of sparks that jump from metal during an intense storm. These sparks, unlike lightning bolts, do not have a specific direction, and can be seen for several minutes after they appear. So it is not a type of lightning bolt and it is not fire (in fact, it is plasma). It was given that name because San Telmo is the sailors pattern, the one who protects them.
Its origin can be found in the static electricity of the atmosphere, and it occurs at the tips of tall objects, that is, on masts, aircraft wings, on light poles, among others. This phenomenon occurs when an intense storm has created such an electric field that it is capable of ionizing the air. Ionization is a phenomenon which It is produced with electrically charged atoms or molecules due to the lack or excess of electrons with respect to a molecule that is neutral. When the difference between one and the other is high enough, the sparks of the Fire of San Telmo appear.
Although it does not cause injuries, a case is known in which there were fatalities. On May 6, 1937, 36 people died in the zeppelin Hindenburg. This was because the hydrogen that was formerly used to fill them had a high risk of ignition.
But currently, if you have to take a plane or boat and you are caught by the Fire of San Telmo ... quiet, and enjoy it, there is no danger.