Serves to Ionize the Air Is this an accurate statement My understanding was that once the stepped leader connects with a positive streamer or another object the channel is formed and the air is ionized Why then does the air need to be re ionized by the Dart Leader if it s already ionized by the initial stepped leader and the lightning flash I think the article needs toe be fleshed out a bit more and citations added I m sure plenty can be found at meteorology sites MAybe NOAA if thay have a glossary or AMS etc