St. Elmo's fire
Stormy static luminescence
St.
Elmo's fire is a luminous electrical discharge that appears during storms on pointed objects like ship masts, airplane wings, or church steeples.
The bluish or violet glow occurs when atmospheric electricity ionizes the air around sharp edges.
Named after the patron saint of sailors, who considered the phenomenon a sign of divine protection: The crew took heart when St. Elmo's fire flickered on the rigging.
Vessel's sail support
- riggingRopes controlling ship sails
- yardarmOuter spar end
- mastheadNewspaper's ownership box
- sparsBoxes for practice
ship · bowsprit · crow's-nest · deck · mariner · sailor · voyage · schooner
Electrified matter state
- ionizationCharge acquisition process
- thunderstormViolent weather with lightning
- lightningAtmospheric electrical discharge
- high-voltageCarrying strong electrical current
Guarding against harm
- omenProphetic indicator
- portentSign of future calamity
- superstitionBaseless belief in omens
- harbingerOne who foreshadows
Heatless light emission
- coronaStar's outermost atmosphere
- plasmaElectrified matter state
- dischargeRelease of substance outward
- phosphorescenceHeatless delayed light emission
mast
Vessel's sail support
spars · ship · bowsprit · crow's-nest · deck · mariner · sailor · voyage · schooner · clipper
plasma
Electrified matter state
- ionizationCharge acquisition process
- thunderstormViolent weather with lightning
- lightningAtmospheric electrical discharge
protection
Guarding against harm
- omenProphetic indicator
- portentSign of future calamity
- superstitionBaseless belief in omens
harbinger · presage · miraculous · apparition
luminescence
Heatless light emission
- coronaStar's outermost atmosphere
- plasmaElectrified matter state
- dischargeRelease of substance outward
phosphorescence · aura · radiance · shimmer · glimmer · flicker
- weather phenomenatornado, wind, hurricane, gust, blizzard
- Thunderstormslightning, thunder, thunderstorm, lightning strike, thunderclap
- sea lorekraken, mermaids, mermaid, sea serpent, sirens
- Electrical Dischargesarc, spark, lightning, corona, electric arc
- plasmaplasma, ions, electrons, protons, charged particles
- Sailor Superstitionsalbatross, whistling, bananas, Davy Jones, Flying Dutchman
St. Elmo's firelightning
Atmospheric electrical discharge
lightning bolt · thunderbolt · lightning strike · electrical arc · chain lightning
St. Elmo's fireflame
Burning gas made visible
open flame · fire · combustion · burning · conflagration