http://www.sciencealert.com/oklahoma-had-the-longest-lightning-strike-on-record

Electric sparks travel further in lower gas pressures.

The lightning strikes would become more persistent and longer if the atmospheric pressure decreases. 

http://www.sciencealert.com/something-terrifying-is-happening-at-the-north-pole

Atmosphere is heating up.

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/plutonium-from-nuclear-tests-lingers-in-the-atmosphere-180948081/

http://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/Radioactivity+in+the+Atmosphere

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jgi7WgB05Jo

As of May 2016, 30 countries worldwide are operating 444 nuclear reactors for electricity generation and 63 new nuclear plants are under construction in 15 countries.

But of course the hottest stuff in the universe has no impact on the planet Earth :-{