News

Elmo and Fire

By Pat Shingleton
Updated: November 19, 2009 7:16 PM

Elmo is derived from Erasmus and St. Elmo was a fourth-century martyr, the patron saint of sailors. As noted in a previous Weather News, St. Elmo's fire is a harmless glow appearing on high objects such as the topmast of a ship or the wing tips of a plane. It forms when misty air ionizes around an object. Electrons in the surrounding air are attracted toward these objects such as lightning rods or chimneys and a positive charge creates a green glow.  Ferdinand Magellan's crew, weary of stormy weather, was on the verge of a mutiny during their voyage around the world. Once they experienced St. Elmo's fire on masts and spars they believed it was a sign that they were entering calm seas

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