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Intra - Cloud Cloud - Cloud Cloud - Ground

Intra-cloud lightning is the most common type of discharge and occurs between oppositely charged areas within the same cloud. Most intra-cloud lightning takes place within the cloud, which, from the outside, looks like a flickering brightness.

A typical intra-cloud lightning flash starts in one of the charge centers, moves horizontally, then forms a vertical channel to the other charge center and grows horizontally there -- forming a discharge that is shaped like a sideways letter "H". Discharges can originate either from the positive charge center down to the negative charge center or vice- versa. 

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Pictures: Courtesy of Dave Sentman/Geophysical Institute/University of Alaska Fairbanks | NASA Global Hydrology and Climate Center | DCI | Copyright © 1999 Discovery Communications Inc.