What does lightning voltage represent?

Lightning voltage represents electrical pressure or potential, which is a crucial concept in understanding how lightning works. High voltage is what allows electric charge to rapidly discharge between clouds or from clouds to the ground. This electrical potential difference drives the flow of current when the conditions are right. The extremely high voltages associated with lightning can exceed millions of volts, creating a powerful and visible discharge of electricity that we observe as a lightning strike.

The other options do not accurately reflect the fundamental nature of lightning. The rate of current flow relates to the actual movement of electric charge, not the voltage itself. The distance between clouds is a physical measurement that does not pertain to electrical properties. Similarly, the temperature of the atmosphere is a separate atmospheric phenomenon that does not provide insight into lightning's electrical characteristics. Understanding voltage as electrical pressure helps in grasping the dynamics of lightning and its effects on structures and the environment.