Where do most lightning strikes occur in relation to the freezing level?

Most lightning strikes occur within 8° C of the freezing level due to the processes involved in thunderstorm development and lightning formation. The freezing level typically refers to the altitude at which the air temperature is at 0°C, and in thunderclouds, significant electrical activity arises from the interactions between ice particles, supercooled water droplets, and varying temperatures.

Within this specific temperature range, the presence of both supercooled water and ice facilitates the collision and transfer of charge between particles, which is crucial for generating the electrical conditions necessary for lightning to develop. This region is often where the necessary updrafts and downdrafts process the particles effectively, creating sufficient charge separation to trigger lightning.

While it may seem logical to consider that lightning could occur above or below this level, the dynamics of charge generation and subsequent discharge are most efficient in the conditions found within approximately 8° C of the freezing level, making this the most relevant answer for understanding where lightning strikes predominantly occur.