On the Science and Impact of Lightning

The science of lightning has become an exciting topic in recent years as a result of the growing appreciation that many phenomena in the space environment around the Earth can affect human beings and their technological systems. The science of lightning is deeply concerned with the origins and manifestations of tropospheric activity and with the propagation of the effects to locations where human activities take place. Our exploration of the solar system means that we must be aware of lightning effects beyond the Earth. This monograph includes three distinct parts on the science of lightning. The first part considers the basic physical properties of lightning discharges occurring in the earth's troposphere. In the second part, the sferics or the so called radio atmospherics, which is basically the signature of lightning flashes, has been taken into account while in the third part optical properties of lightning have been summarized. This book supplements information on physical, electrical and optical properties of lightning in a very lucid way with a view to attract and generate further thoughts to the scientists and advanced level students who are dedicated in lightning research.