Remarkable aspects of the thundercloud are its intense electrification
, precipitation, and convection. A satisfactory understanding of how a
thunderstorm works will require a continuing series of investigations
to explore the complicated interrelationships among these phenomena.
Until now the major effort has been devoted to studies of how precipit
ation causes electrification. For a century, investigations of thunder
storms have been dominated by the idea that lightning is produced by a
charge-separation process within the cloud caused by falling precipit
ation. The origin of this idea, its implications, present status, and
probable future are examined in the light of T. S. Kuhn's views on the
nature of scientific progress. Despite some achievements, the results
of research based on the precipitation theory have proved disappointi
ng. For example, they have shed little light on important problems suc
h as the factors that determine the polarity of the cloud electric dip
ole and the role that electricity plays in meteorological processes. D
uring this century, with the discovery of cosmic rays and the ionizati
on they produce in the air above the cloud, it has become apparent tha
t other processes, which do not involve contact charge separation orf
ailing precipitation, are also causing electrification. Thunderstorms
exercise great influence, for both good and bad, on many human activit
ies. In view of their great environmental importance, it is surprising
how little is known about them and how little effort is being made to
understand how they work. It is urged that the present limited thunde
rstorm research activities be expanded to include new, and possibly mo
re productive, approaches.