The maps are based on data collected by the World Wide Lightning Location Network (WWLLN), which consists of over 100 sensors around the world that detect and record the radio waves emitted by lightning strikes. The new maps show the locations of 36.8 million ground strike points for the year 2018, with a resolution of 0.5 degrees latitude and longitude, or about 56 kilometers (35 miles).
"These maps are a significant improvement over previous global lightning climatologies, which were based on much less data and had much coarser resolution," said study lead author Chris Vagasky, an atmospheric scientist at the University of Washington. "This new level of detail will allow us to better understand the role of lightning in a variety of Earth system processes, such as climate, fire weather, and air chemistry."
The maps reveal that the most lightning-prone regions of the world are the Congo Basin of Africa, northern India, and Florida. The Congo Basin is home to the largest rainforest in Africa, and the frequent lightning strikes there help to create the region's lush vegetation. Northern India is also home to a large rainforest, and the lightning strikes there help to produce the monsoon rains that are essential for agriculture. Florida is the most lightning-prone state in the United States, and the frequent lightning strikes there can cause power outages, wildfires, and even injuries or deaths.
The maps also show that lightning strikes are more common in the tropics than in the polar regions. This is because the tropics are where most of the Earth's thunderstorms occur. Thunderstorms are caused by the upward movement of warm, moist air, which can create electrical charges that lead to lightning strikes.
The new maps will be a valuable resource for scientists who study lightning and its effects on the Earth's climate and ecosystems. They will also help to improve weather forecasting and safety warnings for lightning storms.
The maps were published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters.
