ABSTRACT
The voltage of potential energy among multiple layers of charged clouds is at a multimegavolt level, and the released ionic avalanche carries a multikiloampere electric current. Throughout the discussion of energy storage in the ionized atmosphere during thunderstorms, the author indicated that in the period of time preceding field breakdown, i.e., lightning, the nature of energy storage is potential, while during lightning it is kinetic. The process of sustained ionization in the atmosphere preceding the occurrence of lightning breakdown involves the release of ion clusters of positive and negative polarities and the unleashing of an ionization avalanche at the moment of breakdown. In the conceptual process of energy extraction in the period preceding lightning, a system of suspended multiconducting surfaces is expected to descend surface charge accumulation to an elevated charge collection station, which will perform the equivalent or conceptual static voltage generator energy output from the static voltage collector.
