After the Storm

All fared well at the Cat Ranch.  It was a mighty storm. We were on our way home and Walt Kowalski said "Those clouds look green. That is a bit concerning. Green clouds are never good."

He had reason to be concerned. Welcome to spring! (Notice how GREEN everything is today! More on this later.)

As we were sitting eating dinner, I said to Walt Kowalski, 'Did I leave the light on outside?  There is something shining in the window.' 

Nope, it was the sun breaking through the clouds after the storm.

Clear drops, blurry sky.

Clear sky, blurry drops.  It's your artsy-fartsy for the day. 

So about the theory that the grass looks greener after the first thunderstorm. I've always noticed it and though "Well all of the plants got a good drink and woke up from winter sleep." Maybe. 

Here's a "theory" I found:

During a thunderstorm, every time there is a bolt of lightning the electrical energy is able to break the strong nitrogen bonds. The nitrogen then quickly attaches to oxygen, forming nitrogen dioxide. Nitrogen dioxide dissolves easily in water, which creates nitric acid, which then easily dissolves to create our magic ingredient, NITRATES. The nitrates fall to the ground in the raindrops that seep into your soil and help your grass turn green.

There is some debate as to how much the electricity in lightning affects the greening of the grass. Some people will say that not enough nitrates are formed to affect the green and the nitrates are blown many miles away. Thus, the bright green is an illusion that is created from the wet grass sparkling in the sun’s rays. However, it sure seems that things really green up after a lightning storm, more than after a rainstorm without lightning.

Either way, it is good to have the green grass back.