Lightning: Principles, Instruments and Applications

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.

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.