Global Lightning Hazard

The Global Lightning Hazard is a raster dataset derived from the NASA LIS/OTD Gridded
Lightning Climatology, combining observations from the Optical Transient Detector (OTD,
1995–2000) and the Lightning Imaging Sensor (LIS, 1997–2015) aboard NASA satellites.
Pixel values represent the mean annual lightning flash rate expressed in flashes per km²
per year, providing a long-term climatological baseline of lightning activity worldwide.
This layer is valuable for assessing exposure to lightning-related risks for infrastructure,
energy assets, outdoor operations, and property underwriting.

Technical information

Data coincides with the actual GeoNetwork catalog record - this is our most recent verified data.

Interpreting the data

values are classified into ten levels from Very Low (< 5
flashes/km²/year) to Extreme (> 45 flashes/km²/year). Higher values indicate areas
with persistently high thunderstorm activity. The highest flash rates globally are found
over central Africa, the Congo Basin, and parts of South America and Southeast Asia.
[colour ramp to be confirmed]

Resolution and update frequency

approximately 0.5° × 0.5° (~55 km at the equator), reprojected to
EPSG:3857. The dataset is a static climatological product representing multi-year average
conditions and is not updated in real time.

Source

https://ghrc.nsstc.nasa.gov/uso/ds_docs/lis_climatology/LISOTD_climatology_dataset.html (NASA Global Hydrology Resource Center — LIS/OTD Gridded Lightning Climatology). Data use permitted with source acknowledgment required.