How Does St. Elmo Fire Relate to Will-o'-the-Wisp?

💡 The Answer

• Both are luminous phenomena, but they have different causes and habitats.
• St. Elmo's fire is from electrical corona discharge; will-o'-the-wisp is from burning marsh gases.
• St. Elmo's fire occurs on tall objects during storms; will-o'-the-wisp appears over swamps.
• Many historical accounts confused the two, but science now clearly distinguishes them.