How Dangerous Is Lightning?

This highly readable survey explores the history of lightning, from ancient myth to modern times. Topics include sources of lightning, physical effects, protection of structures and power lines, and current research. 2006 edition.

Lightning strikes somewhere on the surface of the earth about 100 times every second, and current observations indicate a significant increase in activity in the coming years. This illustrated survey explores the history of lightning, from ancient to modern times.
Mythology and observations of lightning damage constituted the extent of lightning history until the Enlightenment period, when Benjamin Franklin, Thomas-François Dalibard, and others began applying a scientific approach. Detailed studies began at the dawn of the twentieth century, with the advent of modern instrumentation. This volume presents up-to-date views of thunderstorm clouds, lightning phenomenology and parameters, spatial distribution of lightning activity, and the global electric circuit. It explores the physical effects of lightning as well as secondary effects, lightning protection, and new frontiers in the understanding of lightning. An information-based study, this book is appropriate for classroom use as well as for popular science readers of all ages.

Introduction

Part I. Is Lightning Still Mysterious?

1. Mythology of Lightning

Beneficial or Harmful?

Ancient Mythology

Classical Mythology

Vedic Mythology

From Viking to Gallic Mythology

Protecting Saints

American Mythology

African Mythology

Asian and Oceanian Mythology

All Over the World

2. Historical Overview

Ancient Civilizations

From the Middle Ages to the Enlightenment

Franklin or Dalibard?

The Saint-Omer Trial

Modern Era

Part II. What Does Science Tell Us?

3. What Is the Source of Lightning?

Characteristics of Cumulonimbus

Regions of Earth's Atmosphere

Evolution of a Thundercloud

Electric Charge Distribution

Classification of Lightning Discharges

Electric Field Change at the Ground

4. Cloud-to-Ground Flashes

General Information

Classification of Cloud-to-Ground Flashes

Cloud-to-Ground Flash Phenomenology: Flat Ground

Cloud-to-Ground Flash Phenomenology: Tall Towers

Lightning Current Parameters

The Global Electric Circuit

5. Where Does Lightning Strike?

Lightning Incidence, Detection, and Mapping

Can We Artificially Initiate Lightning?

Does Lightning Exist on Other Planets?

Part III. Lightning Effects

6. Physical Effects

Electrical Effects

Electrodynamical Effects

Acoustic Effects

Thermal Effects

Electromagnetic Effects

Electrochemical Effects

Lightning Effects on Humans and Animals

7. Secondary Effects and Lightning Damage

Side Flashes

Induced Discharges

Step Voltages

Touch Voltages

Basic Safety Rules

Damage Due to Lightning!

Part IV. Lightning Protection

8. Lightning Attachment and Structural Protection

The Attachment Process

The Electrogeometric Model

Lightning Protection of Buildings and Other Structures

9. Beyond Structural Protection

Internal Protection

When Do You Have to Protect Yourself Against Lightning?

Lightning Protection of High-Voltage Transmission Lines

Part V. Concluding Remarks

10. New Frontiers

Elves, Sprites, and Blue Jets

Laboratory Discharges Compared with Natural Lightning

Research in Progress

Lightning and Climate Change

How Dangerous Is Lightning?

Appendix. Electical Discharges in the Laboratory

Electrical Breakdown

Streamer Theory

Electrical Discharge in a Non-uniform Field

Space Charge Effects

Long Sparks

Glossary