An Introduction to Lightning

Vernon Cooray received his Ph.D. degree in Electricity with special attention to electrical transients and electrical discharges from Uppsala University, Sweden, in 1982. In the year 2000, he was promoted to the rank of full professor in electricity with special attention to transients and electrical discharges at the division for electricity of Uppsala University. From 2000 – 2002 he was the head of the Division for Electricity in the Department of Engineering Sciences. Vernon Cooray has authored and co-authored more than 400 scientific papers and 22 book chapters on Physics of Lightning and Electrical Discharges, Lightning Interaction and Electromagnetic Compatibility. He is the editor of three books, The Lightning Flash, published by IEE (London) in 2003, Lightning Protection published by IEE (London) in 2009 and Lightning Electromagnetics published by IEE (London) in 2012. Vernon Cooray is the Editor in chief of the Journal of Lightning Research. He was also a guesteditor of two issues of Atmospheric Research and two issues of the J. Electrostatics. Vernon Cooray is the vice president of the scientific committee of the International Conference on Lightning Protection (ICLP) and a member of the scientific committee of the Symposium on Lightning Protection (SIPDA).

Lightning and Humans: The Early Days.- Basic Physics of Electrical Discharges.- Basic Electromagnetic Theory.- Earth’s Atmosphere.- The Thundercloud and Lightning Phenomenology.- Mechanism of Charge Generation in Thunderclouds.- Mechanism of the Lightning Flash.- Features of Electrical Currents in Lightning Flashes.- Electric and Magnetic Fields of Lightning Flashes.- Lightning Return Stroke Models.- Lightning Return Stroke Speed.- Propagation Effects on Lightning Generated Electromagnetic Fields.- Lightning Location.- Potential of the Thundercloud and the Charge Distribution in Leaders and Return Strokes.- Direct and Indirect Effects of Lightning.- Interaction of Lightning Flashes with Humans.- Principles of Lightning Protection.- Advanced Procedures to Locate the Point of Attachment of Lightning Flashes.- Interaction of Lightning Flashes and Thunderclouds with the Earth’s Atmosphere.- Unusual Forms of Lightning.- Appendix A: How to Avoid Lightning Injuries Including Questions andAnswers.- Appendix B: Advanced books on Lightning for further reading.