how does energy from sunlight provides the energy for lightning in a thunderstorm?
Answer Energy from sunlight provides 99% of the energy used on Earth, for all purposes. Lightning results from a difference in charge between the Earth and a cloud or between two clouds, similar to the static charge when you walk across a carpet and touch a door knob. The charge builds up because of frictional effects. There is a lot of energy associated with the atmosphere, as shown in hurricanes.
