When lightening hits the sea why dont all the fish die?

Question

When lightening hits the sea why dont all the fish die?

Answer 1

When lightning hits the sea, the current dissipates (is spread over a large area, thus decreasing its power). Fish are more likely to die if the water is shallow (less chance for it to dissipate) or if there are tree roots etc. which the current can pass through.

Answer 2

'cause the electrical potential doesn't penetrate the depths. it stays close to the surface.

Answer 3

When lightning strikes the ocean or other large water bodies, it spreads out over the conducting surface. It also penetrates down and can kill fish in the nearby region

Answer 4

The charge is only effective over a very small area and depth.

Otherwise when lightning struck anywhere, it would carry through the water and electrocute everything everywhere.

Answer 5

it rarely hits the see but when it does because the see is so large the the charge from the lightening isnt large enough too pass through the whole see at a lethal level

Answer 6

The reason sea life doesn't sustain a large number of deaths is because the nature of electric charge. When lightning strikes something, the electrically charged particles in a bolt(s) of lightning are uniformly distributed throughout a material. The larger the length, area, and volume a material has and occupies, then there will be a greater spread out of electrically charged particles. The most massive bodies of water, such as oceans, will distribute electric charge much better than something as small as a pond.

Of course, there is still a risk of electric shock when very close to the lightning strike. There is also a risk of electric shock when in contact with a conducting material.