Tammy Prapp, age 13, of Milwaukee, Wisc., for her question:

WHAT IS SAINT ELMO'S FIRE?

A round flash of light that is seen around some ships in thunderstorms is given the name of Saint Elmo's fire. This flash of light receives the name from the fact that it does indeed look like fire.

Actually Saint Elmo's fire is a charge of electricity caused by a storm. In stormy weather, it can be seen around airplanes, the masts of some ships, at steeple tops and even at the tops of some trees.

Saint Elmo's fire may also be seen at times around the manes of horses and even around people's heads.

The name Saint Elmo is a shorter form of the name Saint Erasmus,

and was considered the patron saint of Mediterranean sailors.