Fundamentals of Lightning

Vladimir A. Rakov is a professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Florida, and Co-Director of the International Center for Lightning Research and Testing (ICLRT). He is the author or coauthor of three other books and over 250 journal papers on various aspects of lightning. Professor Rakov is a Fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), the American Meteorological Society (AMS), the American Geophysical Union (AGU) and the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET). He received the Karl Berger Award in 2012 from the Scientific Committee of the International Conference on Lightning Protection (ICLP) for distinguished achievements in lightning research, developing new fields in theory and practice, modeling and measurements.

'This is a very clear, easy to read and insightful book on one of the most fascinating and yet complex natural phenomena. The content and structure of the book are well designed for use on an undergraduate or graduate course on lightning. It is enriched with interesting exercises and problems, and is nicely complemented by nine instructive appendices. The book is a must read for anyone interested in understanding lightning and its effects.' Farhad Rachidi, Electromagnetic Compatibility Laboratory (EMC Lab), École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Switzerland

• Dedication; Preface; 1. Types of lightning discharges and lightning terminology; 2. Incidence of lightning to areas and structures; 3. Electrical structure of thunderclouds; 4. Properties of the downward negative lightning discharge to ground; 5. Calculation of lightning electromagnetic fields; 6. Modeling of lightning processes; 7. Measurement of lightning electric and magnetic fields; 8. Electromagnetic methods of lightning location; 9. Lightning damaging effects and protective techniques; Appendix 1. How is lightning initiated in thunderclouds?; Appendix 2. Reconstruction of sources from measured electrostatic field changes; Appendix 3. Derivation of exact equations for computing lightning electric and magnetic fields; Appendix 4. Compact intracloud discharges (CIDs); Appendix 5. Is it true that lightning never strikes the same place twice?; Appendix 6. Is it possible to use lightning as an energy source?; Appendix 7. Lightning safety; Appendix 8. Lightning makes glass; Appendix 9. Bibliography on triggered lightning experiments and natural lightning observations at Camp Blanding, Florida (1995–2014); Glossary; References; Index.