Even though man continually attempts to understand the complex physics associated with cloud-to-ground and cloud-to-cloud (or intracloud) lightning, its existence precedes even the existence of life. In fact, some theorists contend that lightning was an integral part of whatever complex phenomena caused life to occur. In humankind, lightning has been a part of ancient cultures, like Greece, where Zeus would rain down bolts of lightning to demonstrate his wrath. Native American tribes believed the Thunderbird caused the phenomena by flashing its wings. However, Benjamin Franklin was the first to demonstrate that lightning was an electrical phenomenon in the 18th century. His now famous kite experiments proved that lightning was electrical in nature and they paved the way for his invention of the lightning rod to protect against the enormous damage that lightning can do, “Every year lightning causes 10,000 wildlands fires in the United States. Annual lightning damage to homes, utilities, and aviation is reported at over $100 million. Underreporting, and lack of a central data gathering system, indicates the figures are actually much higher. Some recent estimates reach $5 billion” (Cutlip 28).
Thunderstorms, a very common type of storm, are the weather phenomenon most associated with cloud-to-ground lightning. Because of the nature of thunderstorms, conditions prevail that begin to build up electrical charges inside of clouds. The actual process by which this charge buildup occurs and especially the separation of the charge remains in debate. Nevertheless, when a thunderstorm develops, it can produce lightning bolts which are a powerful release or discharge of this electrical buildup, an energy release that can exist of thousands of amps and millions of volts in one strike, “Thunderstorms generally develop in the later afternoon or evening hours, when moist daytime air is rising into the upper atmosphere as temperatur...