This updated and expanded new edition of Cooray's classic text provides the reader with a thorough background in almost every aspect of lightning and its impact on electrical and electronic equipment. The contents range from basic discharge processes in air through transient electromagnetic field generation and interaction with overhead lines and underground cables, to lightning protection and testing techniques. New to this edition are discussions of high-speed video recordings of lightning; rocket-and-wire triggered lightning experiments; tower initiated lightning discharges; upper atmospheric electrical discharges; attachment of lightning flashes to grounded structures; energetic radiation from thunderstorms and lightning; global lightning nitrogen oxides production; and lightning and global temperature change.

This unique book provides the reader with a thorough background in almost every aspect of lightning and its impact on electrical and electronic equipment. The contents range from basic discharge processes in air through transient electromagnetic field generation and interaction with overhead lines and underground cables, to lightning protection and testing techniques. This book is of value to anyone designing, installing or commissioning equipment which needs to be secured against lightning strikes, as well as being a sound introduction to research students working in the field.

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.