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Is it possible to know whether a lightning bolt travel from the ground to the sky or from the sky to the ground?

Alternatively, it could be both sides approaching

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I believe the earth is positively charged in comparison to the clouds - or conversely the clouds are negatively charged compared to the ground. So I'd say the electron current always comes down from the sky. Maybe this wikipage could help: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lightning#Discharge. – Wouter Jan 27 at 22:01

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Yes it is: lightning in slow-mo
In general, both are possible, see: types of lightning

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that's one of my favorite youtube videos. – emarti Jan 27 at 23:36

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