In terms of weather phenomena, what does “lightning intra cloud” mean?

"Lightning intra cloud" refers to the phenomenon of lightning occurring within a single cloud. This type of lightning is generated by the electrical discharges that take place between different areas of charge within the same cloud structure. Typically, these intra-cloud discharges contribute to the overall electrical activity within the cloud, which can lead to the more visible inter-cloud or cloud-to-ground lightning.

Understanding this terminology is crucial for meteorological analysis, as intra-cloud lightning is often more frequent than cloud-to-ground strikes and serves as an indicator of severe weather conditions within the thunderstorm. It can also provide insight into the intensity and structure of the storm. The choice representing lightning occurring outside the cloud pertains to a different phenomenon, while cloud-to-ground lightning specifically describes lightning that travels from a cloud to the Earth. Thus, recognizing that intra-cloud strictly indicates discharges occurring within one cloud clarifies why this answer is the most accurate.