A stepped leader needs to form before lightning can occur.

Question

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A stepped leader is a channel of ionized air that forms in the atmosphere and moves towards the ground or towards opposite charges in a cloud. It is a necessary component for the formation of lightning. Once the stepped leader reaches the ground, it creates a path of ionized air that allows a discharge of electrical energy from the cloud to the ground, resulting in a lightning strike.

A Stepped Leader Needs to Form Before Lightning Can Occur