Does lightning kill fish when it strikes the ocean?

Interesting question..

From

“Basically lightning stays more on the surface of the water rather than penetrating it. That’s because water is a reasonably good conductor, and a good conductor keeps most of the current on the surface.”

So, when lightning hits the water, the current zips across the surface in all directions. And if you’re swimming anywhere in the vicinity, it’ll probably hit you. But below the surface, most of the electricity is instantly neutralized. So the fish are generally spared.

Of course, if the fish happen to be surfacing, they’re at risk just like you are. And Dr. MacGorman adds that some electricity does penetrate the water, right at the strike point.”

So, what does it do to electric eels?

this is what recharges them eels so they can go somewhere and stun someone.

i have been wondering about the eel recharge! thanks!

:)

So what would happen if you submerged yourself below the surface? Would you be safe like the fishies?

I’m not too sure, I didn’t really understand the answer completely anyways. I mean electricity wants to go to the ground right? So does the water count as the ground? it disperses but how far does it travel and where does all that energy go? Is it converted into heat and transfered into the water?

Seek Wikipedia. XD

And I thought that was a wonderful question!

actually eels generate the electricity by moving their body.
they’re able to create enough energy when they swim by moving their body in a certain way that they can create a spark.
it has nothing to do with lightning.
also, the electricity spreads out over the entire surface of water, so in the ocean you wont feel it unless you’re right next to it.

@Allie Yes, correct. If you are completely suspended underwater, not touching the ground and not poking through the surface, you would be fine unless you are directly at the point of connection (strike). Oddly, I wrote an entire paper on this exact topic.