UC Berkeley scientists find Jupiter’s lightning up to 100 times stronger than Earth’s
Updated
Updated · SciTechDaily · Apr 24
UC Berkeley scientists find Jupiter’s lightning up to 100 times stronger than Earth’s
12 articles · Updated · SciTechDaily · Apr 24
NASA’s Juno spacecraft detected 206 lightning pulses in one pass and recorded an average of three flashes per second during Jupiter’s 2021–2022 stealth superstorms.
Jupiter’s lightning bolts may release 500 to 10,000 times more energy than those on Earth, offering new insights into atmospheric convection in hydrogen-rich environments.
The research highlights ongoing mysteries about lightning formation on Jupiter and helps scientists better understand weather processes both on Jupiter and on Earth.
Jupiter's lightning is 100 times stronger than Earth's. What makes its atmosphere such a powerful electrical engine?
A new mission just studied Earth's lightning to prepare for Jupiter. What new tech will it use to see Jovian storms?
Are Jupiter’s super-bolts a common occurrence, or are scientists just observing a rare, extreme phenomenon?
Could Jupiter's unimaginably powerful lightning be creating the building blocks for life within its clouds?
With its mission facing a potential end, what final secrets could Juno unlock about Jupiter's violent storms?
Jupiter's Lightning Unveiled: Energy Levels Hundreds to Thousands of Gigajoules
Overview
In a groundbreaking 2026 study, UC Berkeley researchers used data from NASA's Juno spacecraft to reveal that lightning on Jupiter is 100 to 10,000 times more powerful than Earth's. This breakthrough was made possible during a rare lull in Jupiter's storm activity between 2021 and 2022, allowing Juno's Microwave Radiometer and Waves instruments to precisely measure lightning across a wide energy range. Jupiter's unique hydrogen-helium atmosphere causes heavy moist air to rise violently, fueling colossal storms and complex cloud chemistry that generate these immense electrical discharges. Beyond measuring lightning power, these findings deepen our understanding of planetary atmospheres, drive models of exoplanet weather, and support future missions exploring the habitability of Jupiter's icy moons.