How Dangerous Is Lightning? (eBook)

Christian Bouquegneau, Vladimir Rakov (Autoren)

eBook Download: EPUB

2013
144 Seiten
Dover Publications (Verlag)
978-0-486-13884-8 (ISBN)

Infos

This highly readable survey explores the history of lightning, from ancient myth to modern times. Topics include sources of lightning, physical effects, protection of structures and power lines, and current research. 2006 edition.

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Lightning strikes somewhere on the surface of the earth about 100 times every second, and current observations indicate a significant increase in activity in the coming years. This illustrated survey explores the history of lightning, from ancient to modern times. Mythology and observations of lightning damage constituted the extent of lightning history until the Enlightenment period, when Benjamin Franklin, Thomas-François Dalibard, and others began applying a scientific approach. Detailed studies began at the dawn of the twentieth century, with the advent of modern instrumentation. This volume presents up-to-date views of thunderstorm clouds, lightning phenomenology and parameters, spatial distribution of lightning activity, and the global electric circuit. It explores the physical effects of lightning as well as secondary effects, lightning protection, and new frontiers in the understanding of lightning. An information-based study, this book is appropriate for classroom use as well as for popular science readers of all ages.

Inhalt

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

Produkt-Details

• Erscheint lt. Verlag: 19.2.2013
• Sprache: englisch
• Maße: 140 x 140 mm
• Themenwelt: Naturwissenschaften ► Biologie ► Mikrobiologie / Immunologie
• Schlagworte: Extreme weather • global warming • Lightning • Lightning protection • Thunderstorm clouds
• ISBN-10: 0-486-13884-4 / 0486138844
• ISBN-13: 978-0-486-13884-8 / 9780486138848