Talk:Catatumbo lightning

Disappearance?
I wonder if the lightning has disappeared or not. The story of the extinction has only one source, and doesn't seem to have any independent verification. Some web sources http://www.pachamama-spectrum-of-treasures.com/2009/03/venezuelan-adventure-may-2007.html imply that it only occurs during part of the year, the rainy season (between May and November, see Climate_of_Venezuela). Recent blog posts on Apr 11, 2010 http://kelseyinvenezuela.blogspot.com/2010/04/catatumbo.html and Apr 10, 2010 http://meridamegan.blogspot.com/2010/04/catatumbo.html describe viewing the lightning. Robert Hiller (talk) 04:22, 28 April 2010 (UTC)


 * It seems to have been mentioned in the National Geographic blog as recently as Feb. 2010 http://blogs.ngm.com/blog_central/2010/02/index.html --Iskandar Jamshyd (talk) 22:24, 4 May 2010 (UTC)

Even though it's pretty amusing, I would like to question the point that the lightning disappeared due to a copyright violation. Rautasydan (talk) 08:29, 7 December 2011 (UTC)


 * Could it be that Catatumbo lightning has been nationalized by the Venezuelan government? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 148.87.19.198 (talk) 18:59, 19 March 2014 (UTC)

Contradictions / Time of occurrence
One part of the article states that the storm forms an hour after dusk, but another part states that boats have nothing to fear because the lightning generally does not occur at night. The photos and the context of the article leads me to believe that this DOES occur at night, so perhaps the boat mention should be clarified or removed (perhaps it is meant that the storm never moves from the swamps to the sea?) — Preceding unsigned comment added by 174.63.75.206 (talk) 12:14, 25 October 2011 (UTC)


 * This abc news piece seems to have several contradictions with the article. First, it says the lightening begins after midnight, whereas the article says it begins at dusk.  Second, it says the lightening stopped for four months, but the article says two. I'm inclined to go with the abc piece because it seems more reputable. Thoughts? Marine2323 (talk) 05:56, 26 December 2011 (UTC)

Historical references: Visibility
The article currently says: "visible for miles around Lake Maracaibo". Now what exactly is meant by that eludes me, as the lake itself is already 200 km long and 100 km wide... --BjKa (talk) 13:55, 26 April 2016 (UTC)

Spanish image caption
The caption in the last image seems to be Spanish or something. Something related to the low level jet mentioned in the article it appears? 82.75.115.38 (talk) 19:15, 5 September 2016 (UTC)

No uniqueness in lede
How is this different from regular lightning? I expect this to be explained clearly in the lede. It's constant and long-lasting or something? Let's spell it out. Kortoso (talk) 21:11, 3 October 2016 (UTC)

Not "The" Catatumbo Lightning
None of the significant sources use the definite article as a regular part of the name of this phenomenon. I am assuming that this is a translation error. Kortoso (talk) 21:15, 3 October 2016 (UTC)

Muñoz
I added a reference to a debunk of the supposed mention of the lightning in Lope de Vega's Dragontea, by retired Dr. Ángel Vicente Muñoz-García and hosted by Centro de Modelado Científico. Since the leading authority in the study of the lightning is Ángel G. Muñoz at the CMC, I wonder if they are father and son. --Error (talk) 13:58, 1 November 2016 (UTC)

First paragraph is vague.
The first paragraph only describes this as 'an atmospheric phenonomon' that occurs in a single location. It does not attempt to indicate what is special about this location or phenomenon. Setting the first paragraph in a more generic context: 'Widgets are an item in Venezuela. They are sold only next to the mouth of the Catatumbo River where it empties into Lake Maracaibo.' - to which my first questions are 'what are widgets?', 'why are they special compared to any other objects found elsewhere on the planet?', and 'why the Catatumbo River?' -> please describe the atmospheric phenomenon that is Catatumbo Lightning, specifically indicating why it is deserving of a special name when a lightning strike or thunderstorm that occurs over a river in New York might not merit such naming. Yes, I get the just of this from reading the full page, but paragraph one should at least attempt to summarize it for the lay-person who has never encountered the term. 2600:387:1:803:0:0:0:9F (talk) 19:49, 13 January 2017 (UTC)

Insufficient info on what department, who in Zulia's university conducted the research
Insufficient info on what department, who in Zulia's university conducted the research 186.188.119.71 (talk) 08:46, 10 December 2021 (UTC)

Conflict between information here and on the lightning page which has a link
I note on this page that it says that the lightning "occurs for 140 to 160 nights a year" whereas on the lightning page (Lightning) it has a link from Scientific America and states that the lightning "occurs on average, 297 days a year." AS article link (https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-world-s-top-lightning-hotspot-is-lake-maracaibo-in-venezuela/) Which is correct? Tzali (talk) 12:38, 29 March 2024 (UTC)