The primary sound isn't a boom; it’s a high-frequency, ear-splitting crack, similar to a massive whip or a gunshot amplified a thousand times. This is the supersonic expansion of air heated to
If you are close enough to capture "only audio," you are likely experiencing the following:
Standard thunder rumbles because you are hearing the sound waves from a long lightning channel reaching you at different times. In a near-field strike (within 100 meters), there is no time for the sound to "unfold."
. Most consumer and even professional microphones will "clip" or distort immediately, turning the majestic crack into a flat, digital "pop."
(five times hotter than the surface of the sun) occurring right next to your ears. 2. The Sensory Overload: Beyond Audio