Re lightning. Some thoughts: We can look at the precursor to a lightning strikes as being analogous to a capacitor.
Energy Stored = 1/2QV
When a strike occurs, all that energy must be dissipated as heat, light, sound and RF.
I have to believe that these parameters will have been studied extensively – both empirically and theoretically.
Does anyone know how well the theoretical models match up with measurements?
IOW, how well does the *predicted* amount of energy stored in a Cloud to Cloud or Cloud to Ground system match up to the total energy *measured* as a result of a strike?
All the best, Bill