The fragmented science of ball lightning (with comment).

All the apparent anomalies in ball lightning behaviour seem to result from electrochemical processes which arise at the surface of a wet air plasma. The structure and stability of an established lightning ball are maintained by these processes and the ball operates as a thermochemical heat pump powered by the electric field of a thunderstorm. Movements result from asymmetries in the various fields which control the structure. In addition to electric, electromagnetic and gravitational fields, temperature, pressure and compositional gradients can be involved. Electrochemistry provides a framework within which specific properties can be considered using better developed or more appropriate disciplines. Several commonly made assumptions and approximations are identified which can be invalid under the specific conditions which favour ball lightning stability. If any of these limitations is ignored, seriously misleading conclusions may result. The range of power associated with lightning balls is ill defined but may vary continuously between that of globes which lack a bright centre and that of normal lightning. Our failure to contain plasmas electrochemically for more than a few seconds probably reflects our inability to balance (or even measure) the various fields which govern a ball's stability. All the fields may need to be controlled before electrochemistry can usefully be employed to contain plasmas.