Fundamentals of Lightning

Presents the current state of the art in lightning science, for advanced undergraduate and graduate students on a single-semester course.

Vladimir A. Rakov (Author)

9781107072237, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 7 April 2016

248 pages, 125 b/w illus. 13 tables
25.2 x 19.3 x 1.5 cm, 0.73 kg

'This is an outstanding textbook, written by a leading expert in our field. It provides an excellent quantitative and in-depth treatment of lightning from its atmospheric origins through to its practical implications. The content is nicely organized and layered, making it well-suited for a variety of levels of undergraduate and graduate courses in electrical engineering, applied physics and atmospheric sciences. It will also serve as a great long-term reference for researchers in our field.' Kenneth L. Cummins, University of Arizona

This new book provides a focused set of topics suitable for advanced undergraduate or graduate courses on lightning. It presents the current state of the art in lightning science including areas such as lightning modeling, calculation of lightning electromagnetic fields, electromagnetic methods of lightning location, and lightning damaging effects and protective techniques. Pedagogical features designed to facilitate class learning include end-of-chapter summaries, further reading suggestions, questions and problems, and a glossary explaining key lightning and atmospheric electricity terms. A selection of appendices are provided at the end of the book, which include detailed derivations of exact equations for computing electric and magnetic fields produced by lightning. Designed for a single-semester course on lightning and its effects, and written in a style accessible to technical non-experts, this book will also be a useful, up-to-date reference for scientists, engineers and practitioners who have to deal with lightning in their work.

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.

Subject Areas: Electronics engineering [TJF], Meteorology & climatology [RBP], Atmospheric physics [PHVJ], Astrophysics [PHVB]