# Does the 2012 Qinghai recording show a ball of burning soil vapour? · Ball lightning > Three answers have been proposed. Yes; it was a ball of vaporised soil elements sustained after the stroke. leads, with evidence 3 for: supported by its… Source: https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/ball-lightning/questions/QST0D40A5QR3YCV/does-the-2012-qinghai-recording-show-a-ball-of-burning-soil Publisher: Mysteries Department Licence: CC BY 4.0 (credit Mysteries Department and link the page) Updated: 2026-10-26T11:56:54+00:00 --- **0** # Does the 2012 Qinghai recording show a ball of burning soil vapour? Asked 26 Oct 2026 by [**apollo** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/u/apollo)·Part of [What forms and powers ball lightning?](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/ball-lightning/questions/QST0D40A5FY652V/what-forms-and-powers-ball-lightning)·3 answers·0·0 following **Most likely: yes; it was a ball of vaporised soil elements sustained after the stroke** Ahead on the evidence, not yet confirmed. It needs two reviews to be accepted. ## Where it stands Three answers have been proposed. Yes; it was a ball of vaporised soil elements sustained after the stroke. leads, with evidence 3 for: supported by its tests. Two are still possible. ## Why it matters It is the only instrumental record and the strongest evidence for the silicon model⁠[[1]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D409VFM7MZ3/observation-of-the-optical-and-spectral-characteristics-of); its interpretation carries the field⁠[[2]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D409VQE6E1A/first-spectrum-of-ball-lightning). ## Answers 3 [**Yes; it was a ball of vaporised soil elements sustained after the stroke.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/ball-lightning/answers/ANS0D40ACAP3GBV/yes-it-was-a-ball-of-vaporised-soil-elements-sustained-after) Supported by its tests Evidence: 3 for Most likely [**It was a related but different phenomenon, such as a long-lived luminous ground-strike remnant, not…** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/ball-lightning/answers/ANS0D40AD9Y1EQW/it-was-a-related-but-different-phenomenon-such-as-a-long) Not tested enough to call either way Evidence: 2 for Still possible [**None of these.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/ball-lightning/answers/ANS0D40AE1C2N30/none-of-these) Not tested enough to call either way Evidence: none yet Still possible ## History 1. 2014[Cen et al. puts forward: yes; it was a ball of vaporised soil elements sustained after the stroke.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D409VFM7MZ3/observation-of-the-optical-and-spectral-characteristics-of) 1. 2014[Ball puts forward: it was a related but different phenomenon, such as a long-lived luminous ground-strike remnant, not…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D409VQE6E1A/first-spectrum-of-ball-lightning) 1. 2014[Cen et al.: soil lines are present for the entire lifetime.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D409VFM7MZ3/observation-of-the-optical-and-spectral-characteristics-of)For: Yes; it was a ball of vaporised soil elements sustained after the stroke. 1. 2014[Ball: martin Uman called it probably ball lightning, or one type of ball lightning.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D409VQE6E1A/first-spectrum-of-ball-lightning)For: It was a related but different phenomenon, such as a long-lived luminous ground-strike remnant, not… 1. 2018[Wang et al.: optical power of about 4 kW for most of its life.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D409VZ82WVC/study-on-the-luminous-characteristics-of-a-natural-ball)For: Yes; it was a ball of vaporised soil elements sustained after the stroke. 1. 2022[An et al.: si I and Fe I temperatures of about 4,300–4,600 K, below the oxygen-line temperature of about 8,750 K.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D409W727DTY/temperature-of-apparent-natural-ball-lightning-obtained-by)For: Yes; it was a ball of vaporised soil elements sustained after the stroke. 1. 26 Oct 2026Asked on this site ## Discussion 0 [Add to the discussion](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/ball-lightning/questions/QST0D40A5QR3YCV/does-the-2012-qinghai-recording-show-a-ball-of-burning-soil%23discussion) Help with this question [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ] [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/ball-lightning/questions/QST0D40A5QR3YCV/does-the-2012-qinghai-recording-show-a-ball-of-burning-soil%23add-answer) [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ] [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/ball-lightning/questions/QST0D40A5QR3YCV/does-the-2012-qinghai-recording-show-a-ball-of-burning-soil%23add-evidence) [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ] [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/ball-lightning/questions/QST0D40A5QR3YCV/does-the-2012-qinghai-recording-show-a-ball-of-burning-soil%23add-question) [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ] [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/ball-lightning/questions/QST0D40A5QR3YCV/does-the-2012-qinghai-recording-show-a-ball-of-burning-soil%23add-source) Where it fits Ball lightning [**What forms and powers ball lightning?** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/ball-lightning/questions/QST0D40A5FY652V/what-forms-and-powers-ball-lightning)Key question · most likely lightning vaporises soil silica; silicon nanoparticle networks glow as they slowly oxidise [Does ball lightning form at the point where lightning strikes, or in the electric field near storms?](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/ball-lightning/questions/QST0D40A5ZJ387Q/does-ball-lightning-form-at-the-point-where-lightning)Most likely · balls form at or near ground strike points **Does the 2012 Qinghai recording show a ball of burning soil vapour?** You're here · yes; it was a ball of vaporised soil elements sustained after the stroke [ Ask a question under this one ]