This work presents an experimental investigation of the hydrodynamic effects induced by nanosecond and conventional spark discharges. The energy deposited in sparks in the short breakdown time (~1 mJ mm−1) induces hydrodynamic effects that redistribute the energy over a large volume (~1 cm3) surrounding the initial plasma channel. This process influences the subsequent formation of the ignition kernel and the initiation of combustion. The experimental results presented in this paper were obtained with a set of synchronized diagnostics including schlieren, OH planar laser induced fluorescence and electrical measurements of the energy deposited in the plasma. It is shown that the motion of the gas excited after the discharge breakdown depends not only on the total deposited energy but also on the dynamics of the energy input in the plasma. Finally, the effects of nanosecond sparks are compared with those of conventional sparks used for internal combustion engines. We show that, with 20 times less energy, the nanosecond spark produces a twice bigger excited gas volume than the conventional spark. This is because the energy deposited by the nanosecond spark during the breakdown stage is three times higher than for the conventional spark.