The voltage between the cloud and the ground increases until an ionized path is created emanating from the cloud. That ionized path travels in leaps towards the earth.

The extremity of the leader has the same potential as the cloud. As the leader nears the earth, the atmospheric potential increases above the ground and the IONIFLASH is electrically charged.

When the extremity of the leader arrives at a critical position, the IONIFLASH reaches its maximum electrical charge, and the streamer emission of the accumulated current is produced on its extremity which ionizes the air around the summit.

The electrical arc, generated at the tip of the IONIFLASH, provokes a streamer emission which rises toward the leader more quickly than on a simple rod (it is the early streamer emission).

The link between the earth and the cloud is formed and the lightning current passes along the ionized path.

Several electrical discharges can rapidly follow the first one.

The voltages between the cloud and ground are equalised and electrical discharges cease.