Vladimir A. Rakov is a professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Florida. He was previously Director of the Lightning Research Laboratory at Tomsk Polytechnical University, Russia. Martin A. Uman was the co-founder and President of Lightning Location and Protection, Inc. (LLP) and is now a professor and Chair of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Florida.

'Rarely in the history of science has one contribution covered a subject with such depth and thoroughness as to set the enduring standard for years, perhaps even decades, to come … I recommend that you purchase two copies, one for the office and one for the home to avoid having to carry this 5 lb tome back and forth.' EOS

• Preface; 1. Introduction; 2. Incidence of lightning; 3. Electrical structure of lightning-producing clouds; 4. Downward negative lightning discharges to ground; 5. Positive and bipolar lightning discharges to ground; 6. Upward lightning initiated by ground-based objects; 7. Artificial initiation (triggering) of lightning by ground-based activity; 8. Winter lightning in Japan; 9. Cloud discharges; 10. Lightning and airborne vehicles; 11. Thunder; 12. Modelling of lightning processes; 13. The distant lightning electromagnetic environment: atmospherics, Schumann resonances and whistlers; 14. Lightning effects in the middle and upper atmosphere; 15. Lightning effects on the chemistry of the atmosphere; 16. Extraterrestrial lightning; 17. Lightning locating systems; 18. Deleterious effects of lightning and protective techniques; 19. Lightning hazards to humans and animals; 20. Ball lightning, bead lightning, and other unusual discharges; Appendix. books on lightning and related subjects; Subjects; Index.

Vladimir A. Rakov is a professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Florida. He was previously Director of the Lightning Research Laboratory at Tomsk Polytechnical University, Russia. Martin A. Uman was the co-founder and President of Lightning Location and Protection, Inc. (LLP) and is now a professor and Chair of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Florida.

'Rarely in the history of science has one contribution covered a subject with such depth and thoroughness as to set the enduring standard for years, perhaps even decades, to come … I recommend that you purchase two copies, one for the office and one for the home to avoid having to carry this 5 lb tome back and forth.' EOS

• Preface; 1. Introduction; 2. Incidence of lightning; 3. Electrical structure of lightning-producing clouds; 4. Downward negative lightning discharges to ground; 5. Positive and bipolar lightning discharges to ground; 6. Upward lightning initiated by ground-based objects; 7. Artificial initiation (triggering) of lightning by ground-based activity; 8. Winter lightning in Japan; 9. Cloud discharges; 10. Lightning and airborne vehicles; 11. Thunder; 12. Modelling of lightning processes; 13. The distant lightning electromagnetic environment: atmospherics, Schumann resonances and whistlers; 14. Lightning effects in the middle and upper atmosphere; 15. Lightning effects on the chemistry of the atmosphere; 16. Extraterrestrial lightning; 17. Lightning locating systems; 18. Deleterious effects of lightning and protective techniques; 19. Lightning hazards to humans and animals; 20. Ball lightning, bead lightning, and other unusual discharges; Appendix. books on lightning and related subjects; Subjects; Index.

Vladimir A. Rakov is a professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Florida. He was previously Director of the Lightning Research Laboratory at Tomsk Polytechnical University, Russia. Martin A. Uman was the co-founder and President of Lightning Location and Protection, Inc. (LLP) and is now a professor and Chair of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Florida.

'Rarely in the history of science has one contribution covered a subject with such depth and thoroughness as to set the enduring standard for years, perhaps even decades, to come … I recommend that you purchase two copies, one for the office and one for the home to avoid having to carry this 5 lb tome back and forth.' EOS

• Preface; 1. Introduction; 2. Incidence of lightning; 3. Electrical structure of lightning-producing clouds; 4. Downward negative lightning discharges to ground; 5. Positive and bipolar lightning discharges to ground; 6. Upward lightning initiated by ground-based objects; 7. Artificial initiation (triggering) of lightning by ground-based activity; 8. Winter lightning in Japan; 9. Cloud discharges; 10. Lightning and airborne vehicles; 11. Thunder; 12. Modelling of lightning processes; 13. The distant lightning electromagnetic environment: atmospherics, Schumann resonances and whistlers; 14. Lightning effects in the middle and upper atmosphere; 15. Lightning effects on the chemistry of the atmosphere; 16. Extraterrestrial lightning; 17. Lightning locating systems; 18. Deleterious effects of lightning and protective techniques; 19. Lightning hazards to humans and animals; 20. Ball lightning, bead lightning, and other unusual discharges; Appendix. books on lightning and related subjects; Subjects; Index.