Awesome to any beholder, lightning has been a subject of intense interest to scientists curious about its exact physical nature. There was a dearth of comprehensive scientific literature on the subject until the publication of this volume. Geared toward advanced undergraduates in physics or engineering, it features remarkable clarity and a minimum of mathematical notation, making it accessible to nonspecialists and useful as a teaching resource or for self-study. Dr. Uman, whose own work has contributed greatly to understanding the physics of lightning, presents a general introduction to lightning phenomena and terminology, lightning photography, electrical and magnetic field measurements, and current measurements. Additional topics include lightning spectroscopy and thunder, a wealth of new and detailed analyses of the latest data, and reviews of theories regarding the discharge process from the special vantage point of a scientist well-versed in plasma physics. Five appendices bring recent research up to date, covering such phenomena as bead and ball lightning and reviewing experimental data and modeling. This authoritative exposition of the many physical phenomena associated with lightning is the only inexpensive single-volume presentation on the subject.