Lightning represents a natural phenomenon of substantial interest. Due to its complex nature, research continues in many countries and reveals amazing results. Lightning is actively observed because of its relevance to Earth climate and air composition in addition to the classical aspects of related human fatalities and damage to forests, buildings, power lines, aircraft, structures and electronic devices.

In this volume, the most important contemporary questions on lightning are addressed and analyzed under many experimental and theoretical aspects. Lightning detection techniques using ground-based and space-borne methods are described, along with network engineering and statistical analysis.

Contributions detail research on atmospheric electricity, cloud physics, lightning physics, modeling of electrical storms and middle atmospheric events. Special phenomena such as triggered lightning and sprite observations are examined. Lightning-induced nitrogen oxides and their effects on atmospheric chemistry and climate are discussed.

Each topic is presented by international experts in the field. Topics include:

air chemistry
convective storms
infrasound from lightning
lightning and climate change
lightning and precipitation
lightning and radiation
lightning and supercells
lightning and thunderstorms
lightning detection
lightning from space
lighting protection
lightning return strokes
observations and interpretations
spatial distribution and frequency
triggered lightning
weather extremes

Auteur

Hans D. Betz received his PhD in Physics at the University of Heidelberg, Germany. He performed research and teaching at the Physics Department of MIT at Boston, USA, thereafter at the Physics Department of the Ludwig Maximilians University, Munich. Major fields of research covered laser, atomic and nuclear physics, and atmospheric electricity.

Contenu
Present Understanding of the Lightning Return Stroke.- Triggered Lightning.- Electric Field and Charge Structure in Lightning-Producing Clouds.- Characteristics of Lightning in Supercells.- LINET An International VLF/LF Lightning Detection Network in Europe.- LAMPINET Lightning Detection in Italy.- Lightning Detection in Spain: The Particular Case of Catalonia.- Spatial Distribution and Frequency of Thunderstorms and Lightning in Australia.- Cloud-to-Ground Lightning Observations in Brazil.- Observation and Interpretation of Lightning Flashes with Electromagnetic Lightning Mapper.- Nowcasting of Thunderstorms Using VHF Measurements.- Optical Detection of Lightning from Space.- Space- and Ground-Based Studies of Lightning Signatures.- Lightning Measurements from Satellites and Significance for Storms in the Mediterranean.- Energetic Radiation and Lightning.- Schumann Resonance Signatures of Global Lightning Activity.- The Meteorological and Electrical Structure of TLE-Producing Convective Storms.- Infrasound from Lightning and Sprites.- Lightning in the Mediterranean in Relation with Cloud Microphysical Parameters.- Lightning and Precipitation.- Comparative Analysis of Flash and Radar Characteristics of Thunderstorm Cells.- Lightning Characteristics of Extreme Weather Events.- Flash Cells in Thunderstorms.- Thunderstorms, Lightning and Climate Change.- Impact of Lightning on Air Chemistry and Climate.- Lightning and NO X Production in Global Models.- Lightning Protection of Structures.