Description

Lightning Framing Bell Rock

This image was taken from the slickrock near Yavapai Vista in late July 2014 during Monsoon Season.  A monsoon is caused by warm air creating a surface low pressure zone which draws moist air from the oceans. Arizona winds usually come from the west, but shift to a southeasterly wind in the summer, bringing moisture, most often from the Gulfs of Mexico and California. While many people believe that monsoons only occur in Asia, true monsoons do occur in the Southwest US, particularly in Arizona and New Mexico. In the foreground of this image from right to left are Bell Rock, Courthouse Butte, Rabbit Ears, and Lee Mountain.  A device which senses lightning and triggers your camera, called a lightning trigger, was used to capture this image.  The trigger was on for about 30 minutes and recorded many strikes, this image is the best of them.