Thunderbolt: Learning About Lightning

by Jonathan D. Kahl

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INTRODUCTION

ELECTRICAL STORMS

The thunderstorm life cycle
Electrical charges
Thunder
Thunderstorm weather

LIGHTNING FLASHES

Anatomy of a lightning flash
Types of lightning

LIGHTNING AND PEOPLE

Studying lightning
Lightning damage
Lightning safety

GLOSSARY

INDEX

A typical lightning stroke carries an electrical charge of more than 100 million volts. Lightning can split tree trunks, start fires, and knock airplanes out of the sky.

Where does a lightning strike come from? Find out in Thunderbolt: Learning about Lightning. In this fact-filled book, meteorologist Jonathan Kahl explains how lightning forms, what happens when lightning strikes, and how scientists study this dangerous weather event. You'll also learn about thunder, the booming sound that accompanies a lightning flash.

Using full-color photographs and charts, Thunderbolt shows us lightning in action. But while it is often beautiful, lightning can also be deadly. Dr. Kahl describes the damage lightning causes and explains how you can protect yourself from a lightning strike.

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