In this paper the amounts of energy dissipation in different stages of
ground flashes are estimated by electrostatic energy considerations.
In the analysis the cloud is modeled using the typical charge configur
ation given by Malan [1963]. The leader stage is modeled by a column o
f charge that extends from cloud to ground. The linear charge density
along the leader channel is assumed to remain uniform or decrease expo
nentially with height. On the basis of the results, the energy budget
of return strokes and ground flashes can be described as follows: (1)
A typical stepped leader-return stroke process that neutralizes 5 C of
charge dissipates about 5.5 x 10(8) J. Of this energy about 3.5 x 10(
8) J dissipates in the return stroke stage, and 2 x 10(8) J in the lea
der stage. An unit length of the first return stroke channel dissipate
s about 7 x 10(4) J/m. (2) A typical dart leader-return stroke process
that neutralizes 1 C of charge dissipates about 12 x 10(7) J. Of this
energy 4 x 10(7) J dissipates in the return stroke stage and 8 x 10(7
) J in the dart leader stage. An unit length of the subsequent return
stroke channel dissipates about 8 x 10(3) J/m. (3) A typical ground fl
ash with four strokes dissipates about 9.5 x 10(8) J. Of this energy 4
.5 x 10(8) J dissipates in the leader stages, and 5 x 10(8) J dissipat
es in the return stroke stages. In our analysis we also discovered the
following: (1)The charge that maximizes the energy dissipation during
the leader stage depends on the charge density of the cloud. For the
values of cloud charge densities measured in experimental investigatio
ns this optimum charge is about 5 C. (2) For a given amount of charge
neutralization, a cloud flash dissipates more energy than a ground fla
sh.