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What types of lightning are there?

There are cloud-to-ground flashes, ground-to-cloud flashes and cloud-to-cloud
flashes.
In case of a cloud-to-ground flash, the electrically charged clouds equalise with
the ground below. The lightning discharge is initiated by downward leaders from
the cloud to the ground. They frequently hit flat ground and low buildings. Bran-
ching to the ground is characteristic of cloud-to-ground flashes.
Ground-to-cloud flashes, also referred to as upward flashes, may strike very
high, exposed objects such as steeples, radio masts or mountain peaks. Upward
branching is characteristic of ground-to-cloud flashes.
Cloud-to-cloud flashes occur within a cloud or between two clouds, however,
they do not occur between clouds and the ground.

Cloud-to-ground flashes Ground-to-cloud flashes Cloud-to-cloud flashes

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