Could a giant exhaust trigger lightning? A discussion for meteorologists.

[Maloof?]

I've been considering this idea for a little while and am in dire need of an answer.

Consider this; an exhaust for a huge engine is erected at around cloud-level (cumulus, perhaps a little lower). The exhaust produces huge amounts of smoke and heat. I'm aware that volcanos have been known to create lightning through the interactions between the swiftly rising ash plume and the vertically static clouds in the surrounding area. Could an exhaust have the same effect? If so, assuming that the exaust opens up far from ground level, could we assume that the lighting would be cloud-to-cloud rather than cloud-to-ground?

Thanks chaps.

[demonguard]

I feel like you're constructing some massive evil genius plan to take over the world with lightning. Or something.

[lolwutdude]

[QUOTE=demonguard;19544139]I feel like you're constructing some massive evil genius plan to take over the world with lightning. Or something.[/QUOTE]

Tzeentch approves

[Tetsmega]

Somehow I really doubt it can due to the fact that exhaust smoke is different from volcano smoke.

[pentium]

Apollo 12 had something similar happen when it was struck by lightning and the bolt rode the exhaust vapor trail back down to the launch tower however that engine was fucking huge.
Your idea of putting a diesel generator at cloud level will have no effect at all.

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMYNy3JsHTE[/media]

Gotta love science! :science:

[Erp]

yes

[Maloof?]

[QUOTE=pentium;19544286]Apollo 12 had something similar happen when it was struck by lightning and the bolt rode the exhaust vapor trail back down to the launch tower however that engine was fucking huge.
Your idea of putting a diesel generator at cloud level will have no effect at all.

[URL="http://www.facepunch.com/#"]View YouTUBE video[/URL]

[URL]http://youtube.com/watch?v=TMYNy3JsHTE[/URL]

Gotta love science! :science:[/QUOTE]

I'm considering something much larger. More like the size of several Apollo-sized rockets strapped together.

[ProWaffle]

[QUOTE=Maloof?;19544086]Consider this; an exhaust for a huge engine is erected at around cloud-level[/QUOTE]

erected tehehe i so funny

[TehDoomCat]

You don't need a massive engine, just something creating a lot of friction at cloud-level... like a [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Van_de_Graaff_generator]van-de-graaf generator[/url]. Imagine a giant one of those creating a fuckton of static... as soon as it comes into contact with a cloud, it grounds on the cloud and you get... well, some kinda' lightning at least.

And if you pipe in steam from somewhere, you've got homemade clouds.