This $2,184,050 three-year Project Grant from the National Science Foundation's Geosciences program (CFDA 47.050) supports lightning and thunderstorm studies at the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology in Socorro, New Mexico. The award funds research to further understanding of lightning production mechanisms and terrestrial gamma ray flashes. Studies utilize multiple lightning detection systems including lightning mapping arrays and dual broadband interferometers to obtain high-resolution spatial and temporal data on flash development. Observational data is combined with electric field and high-energy particle measurements from the Telescope Array facility. Comparing lightning data to gamma ray bursts detected by the array provides insight into energetic initial breakdown pulses and how they initiate and influence continuing flash development. Additional coordinated observations will take place in east central Florida near Kennedy Space Center to leverage that region's high lightning incidence for potential observations of in-cloud flashes producing satellite-detected gamma ray flashes. The research advances knowledge of both gamma ray flash production and lightning discharge processes while providing hands-on learning for students.