St. Elmo’s Fire – Ancient Plasma Phenomenon That Frightened Sailors

Conny Waters - AncientPages.com - St. Elmo's Fire is a fascinating atmospheric phenomenon that has been observed by sailors for centuries. This natural occurrence is characterized by a bright blue or violet glow that appears to surround ships during certain weather conditions. The phenomenon was first documented by Pliny the Elder in the 1st century A.D., who described blue flames appearing during thunderstorms.

The name "St. Elmo's Fire" is derived from St. Erasmus, also known as St. Ermo, the patron saint of Mediterranean sailors. Over time, "St. Ermo" was mispronounced as "St. Elmo," leading to the current name of the phenomenon.

Throughout history, many notable figures, including Christopher Columbus, Ferdinand Magellan, and Julius Caesar, have reported witnessing St. Elmo's Fire during their voyages. Sailors traditionally viewed this luminous display as a good omen and a sign that their prayers had been answered.

St. Elmo's Fire typically appears towards the end of severe storms. Sailors observed that soon after the glow manifested, the turbulent seas would calm, and the storm would subside. This association led to the belief that the phenomenon was a harbinger of improved weather conditions.

Ancient Greeks named St. Elmo's fire based on its appearance. A single discharge was called "Helene" (Greek for "torch"). Two simultaneous occurrences were named "Castor and Pollux" after Helen's mythological twin brothers. This naming reflects the cultural importance of the phenomenon in ancient Greek society.

St. Elmo's fire, was sometimes associated with the Devil among sailors. In 1707, Pierre Taillandier, a missionary appointed to India, embarked on a lengthy journey that involved crossing the Atlantic Ocean, traversing Mexico, and sailing across the Pacific via the Philippines to reach Pondicherry on India's Coromandel Coast.

During his voyage, Taillandier experienced an incident in the Malacca Strait approximately two years after departing France. He, along with his companion Pierre Bonnet and about a hundred other passengers, were aboard a two-masted vessel, likely an Arabian dhow. They narrowly escaped a shipwreck off the coast of North Sumatra during a severe storm that persisted for several days.

Taillandier provided a vivid description of the experience, detailing how the ship momentarily seemed to defy gravity as it lost contact with the water's surface before descending into the troughs between enormous wave crests, which he likened to mountains.

"The sea was very agitated; the waves were high and quick to break over our heads. They kept menacing us with the specter of death. One alone would have been enough to entomb us."

"But their prayers were answered even as the devil himself, the vessel's frightened crew believed, put up a fight by showing itself as points of St. Elmo Fire, off the dhow'swhose sails were made of rush and bamboo cross-battens." ¹

The scientific explanation for St. Elmo's Fire involves electrical discharge in the atmosphere, often occurring during thunderstorms or in strong electric fields. While once shrouded in mystery and superstition, this natural light show continues to captivate observers with its ethereal beauty and historical significance.

An electrical discharge characterizes St. Elmo's Fire. This occurrence results from a voltage difference between the atmosphere and the sea, causing ionization of gases around masts, emitting a visible glow. While similar to lightning, St. Elmo's Fire is distinct and is actually a form of plasma, comparable to the illumination in neon lightbulbs.

It's important to note that St. Elmo's Fire and "ball lightning" are separate phenomena. While the scientific community debates the nature of ball lightning, it is definitively not the same as St. Elmo's Fire. A key difference is that ball lightning can move through the air, whereas St. Elmo's Fire remains stationary.

Despite its name, St. Elmo's Fire is not actually fire. Additionally, it's a misconception that this phenomenon only occurs at sea. Observations of St. Elmo's Fire have been reported on various structures and objects, including church steeples, airplane wing tips, and even cattle horns.

This electrical display results from specific atmospheric conditions and can occur in various locations with a sufficient charge differential. Understanding the nature and characteristics of St. Elmo's Fire helps distinguish it from other atmospheric electrical phenomena and dispels common misconceptions about its occurrence and properties.