Physical processes during development of lightning flashes

The objective of this paper is to review our present understanding of the physical processes in lightning flashes during their development within or outside a cloud, following lightning initiation. This represents the ‘big picture’ of lightning development, in the scale of the cloud dimensions themselves. Since the acceptance of the bi-directional, zero-net-charge leader concept, significant changes have occurred in our understanding of the key physical processes of which a lightning flash is comprised, and in the analytical relationship between the electrical structure of a cloud and lightning parameters. These changes are discussed with an emphasis on the unifying nature of the bi-directional leader concept. To cite this article: V. Mazur, C. R. Physique 3 (2002) 1393–1409.