It has often been suggested that the kind of pressure rocks are straining under just prior to an earthquake releasing the tension causes piezoelectric charges to build up in crystals in the rock layers underground, just like the starter on your BBQ grill, but strong enough to attract lightning to correct the voltage imbalance.
Do 40,000 Lightning Strikes Over California…
It has often been suggested that the kind of pressure rocks are straining under just prior to an earthquake releasing the tension causes piezoelectric charges to build up in crystals in the rock layers underground, just like the starter on your BBQ grill, but strong enough to attract lightning to correct the voltage imbalance.