This book about lightning summarizes the essence of physics and effects of lightning in a non-technical manner and provides an up-to-date description of the phenomenon of lightning in simple language. Starting with the myths related to lightning, the reader is introduced to the mechanism of lightning flashes and their interactions with humans, human-made systems and Earth's environment. Most of the available books on lightning are written for the experts in the field and there is a need for a book that introduces the undergraduate and beginning post graduate students to the subject of lightning and prepares them for more advanced books meant for the experts. This introductory book, which is based on a series of lectures given to undergraduate and postgraduate students in electrical engineering, is intended to fill this need. Tailored to the needs of university students who plan to study electrical engineering, meteorology, environmental or basic physics, it is also a valuable reference resource for laymen who are interested in knowing more on this phenomenon.

Lightning is important for all scientists and engineers involved with electric installations. It is gaining further relevance since climate warming is causing an increase in lightning strikes, and since the rising numbers of renewable power generators, the electricity grid, and charging infrastructure are susceptible to lightning damage. This is the second edition to this comprehensive work. Both volumes have been thoroughly revised and updated for this second edition. Volume 1 treats lightning return stroke modelling and lightning electromagnetic radiation, and Volume 2 addresses electrical processes and effects. Chapter coverage includes various models and simulations of lightning strokes, measurements of lightning-generated EM fields, HF, VHF and microwave radiation, and lightning location systems; atmospheric discharge processes, lightning strikes to grounded structures and towers, EM field propagation, interaction with cables, effects on power transmission and distribution systems, effects in the ionosphere, mesosphere and magnetosphere, as well as NOx generation and climate effects. The volumes provide the rules and procedures to combine the readers' understanding with a model of every lightning-related electromagnetic process, and their effects and interactions. Readers obtain first-hand experience through simulations of the EM field of thunderclouds and lightning flashes and their effects. These volumes are a valuable resource for researchers and engineers in the areas of electrical engineering and physics involved in the fields of electromagnetic compatibility, lightning protection, renewable energy systems, smart grids, and lightning physics, as well as for professionals from telecommunication companies and manufacturers of power equipment, and advanced students.

Lightning is important for all scientists and engineers involved with electric installations. It is gaining further relevance since climate warming is causing an increase in lightning strikes, and since the rising numbers of renewable power generators, the electricity grid, and charging infrastructure are susceptible to lightning damage. This is the second edition to this comprehensive work. Both volumes have been thoroughly revised and updated for this second edition. Volume 1 treats lightning return stroke modelling and lightning electromagnetic radiation, and Volume 2 addresses electrical processes and effects. Chapter coverage includes various models and simulations of lightning strokes, measurements of lightning-generated EM fields, HF, VHF and microwave radiation, and lightning location systems; atmospheric discharge processes, lightning strikes to grounded structures and towers, EM field propagation, interaction with cables, effects on power transmission and distribution systems, effects in the ionosphere, mesosphere and magnetosphere, as well as NOx generation and climate effects. The volumes provide the rules and procedures to combine the readers' understanding with a model of every lightning-related electromagnetic process, and their effects and interactions. Readers obtain first-hand experience through simulations of the EM field of thunderclouds and lightning flashes and their effects. These volumes are a valuable resource for researchers and engineers in the areas of electrical engineering and physics involved in the fields of electromagnetic compatibility, lightning protection, renewable energy systems, smart grids, and lightning physics, as well as for professionals from telecommunication companies and manufacturers of power equipment, and advanced students.

This book provides the theory, mathematics and computational tools that are necessary to model each and every one of the processes associated with lightning discharges. This is essential information for a newcomer to the subject as well as for experienced scientists working in this field. Indeed, it is only through exercising various models and mathematical simulations that one can understand the basics mechanisms associated with the generation and interactions of the electric and magnetic fields of thunderclouds and lightning. This book would appeal to undergraduate and post graduate Physics and Engineering Students, Lightning Protection and EMC Engineers and those working within the areas of Electrical Engineering, Computer engineering and Physics. This book provides the rules and computations procedures to bridge this physical understanding with high level computational procedures to model each and every electromagnetic process, whether static or dynamic, and their effects and interactions. This book makes it possible for the reader to apply the knowledge gained from these books such as The Lightning Flash, IET 2003 and Lightning Protection, IET 2010 and obtain first hand experience through simulations on the processes generating the electromagnetic field of thunderclouds and lightning flashes and the effects of these electromagnetic fields. They will also experience how the results described in these books will emerge when Maxwell s equations are combined with basic laws conservation laws of nature and physics of electrical discharges. Uniquely, the information provided in this book is not limited to lightning scientists and lightning protection engineers alone. The procedures used to study the interaction of lightning electromagnetic fields with structures, power lines and telecommunication systems can also be used to study the interaction of the said components with electromagnetic fields generated by any radio transmitter."

Lightning is a natural phenomenon that has always fascinated humans. It is also a destructive force, and the science of protecting humans and their belongings on earth is called lightning protection. This book provides the reader with a thorough background in almost every aspect of lightning protection. The contents of the book, distributed over 23 chapters, covers all aspects of lightning protection including lightning parameters of engineering interest, the evaluation of the risk imposed by lightning strikes, the art of installing lightning protection systems on various structures, basic principles and procedures necessary to protect electronic equipment in buildings from lightning flashes, grounding in lightning protection, the function of surge protection devices, protection of power transmission lines and telecommunication towers from lightning, the interaction of lightning flashes with wind turbines, various aspects of lightning strikes to trees, medical and engineering aspects of lightning strikes to humans, and lightning warning systems. In addition to providing essential information on lightning protection for engineers and scientists, the book is intended for use as a textbook on lightning protection at both undergraduate and postgraduate level.