This chapter introduces the fundamentals of the subject, the laboratory for which is the Earth's atmosphere. All of its important physical properties vary significantly with altitude; its electrical conductivity varies greatly with altitude and also with latitude. The modus operandi of the global atmospheric electric circuit, in part powered by thunderstorms, is outlined. Some observations of transient luminous events, which occur above certain energetic thunderstorm systems just after a strong lightning discharge (the effect of which is usually to take positive charge to the ground), are introduced and their characteristics mentioned. Different theoretical ideas that have been put forward to explain crucial aspects of these phenomena are introduced, and some relevant numerical simulations are briefly discussed.
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