Abstract: An arrangement for discharge of electricity or lightning in the atmosphere to prevent formation of space charges that would reduce the strength of electric fields therein by transmitting through a path in the atmosphere one or more first leaser pulses of wavelength essentially within the ultraviolet range and of duration sufficient to create an electrically conductive ionized channel in the atmosphere and simultaneously transmit in said path one or more second laser pulses of longer wavelength than the ultraviolet pulses to maintain the conductivity of the channel for a time long enough for lightning to occur therein.