system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
ELI5: Why does thunder sometimes reverberate for a long time and other times for a short time?

I just heard a thunder roll that lasted about a minute long. But, sometimes, I hear thunder rolls that are only a few seconds long.
gpt
This all has to do with where you are relative to the lightning. Basically, thunder is emitted along the length of the lightning bolt. Depending on your position and the lightning's orientation, some of this thunder makes it to you faster, because it was emitted closer to you. This can make thunder sound like a sharp crack or a long low rumble.