Abstract: The recent progresses in the study of the physical processes of lightning discharge and electric structure of thunderstorm in the last decade were reviewed. By using the self-developed lightning detecting and locating technology with the high time resolutions, the characteristics and parameters of the lightning discharges in different areas were obtained. The observation experiments on the lightning activity was conducted in Qinghai-Tibet plateau for the first time. The special characteristics of the thunderstorm and lightning activity were revealed and their cause of formation were studied by using the numerical simulation. The theory of atomic structure was introduced into the study of lightning spectrum，and the lightning spectrum in the bandwidth of visible light was recorded and identified. The technology of artificially triggered lightning wan altitude was developed and the measuring technologies of the optical and electric signal under the condition of rigorous electromagnetism were resolved. The results observed show the optical and VHF radiation evidence of bi-directional leader propagation. The experiments of lightning protection were conducted by means of the artificially triggered lightning. In addition, the relationship between lightning and weather and climate were studied preliminarly.