How Dangerous Is Lightning?

IntroductionPart 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 World2. Historical Overview Ancient Civilizations From the Middle Ages to the Enlightenment Franklin or Dalibard? The Saint-Omer Trial Modern EraPart 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 Ground4. 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 Circuit5. Where Does Lightning Strike? Lightning Incidence, Detection, and Mapping Can We Artificially Initiate Lightning? Does Lightning Exist on Other Planets?Part III. Lightning Effects6. Physical Effects Electrical Effects Electrodynamical Effects Acoustic Effects Thermal Effects Electromagnetic Effects Electrochemical Effects Lightning Effects on Humans and Animals7. Secondary Effects and Lightning Damage Side Flashes Induced Discharges Step Voltages Touch Voltages Basic Safety Rules Damage Due to Lightning!Part IV. Lightning Protection8. Lightning Attachment and Structural Protection The Attachment Process The Electrogeometric Model Lightning Protection of Buildings and Other Structures9. Beyond Structural Protection Internal Protection When Do You Have to Protect Yourself Against Lightning? Lightning Protection of High-Voltage Transmission LinesPart V. Concluding Remarks10. 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 SparksGlossary