Global Lightning Data for Hurricane and Severe Storm Sentinel Campaign

The World Wide Lightning Location Network (WWLLN) provides quality-controlled global lightning data collected during the 2012-2014 Hurricane and Severe Storm Sentinel campaign. This dataset maps lightning activity for storms studied in the HS3 campaign, using a global ground-based sensor network operated by the University of Washington. Data is provided by NASA and was last updated on the Data.gov platform in March 2026.

Use Cases

• Analyzing lightning flash density within hurricane systems to study storm intensity.
• Tracking the spatial and temporal evolution of lightning during severe weather events.
• Correlating lightning activity with other meteorological data from the HS3 campaign.
• Validating satellite-based lightning observations with ground-based network data.

Strengths

• Data is quality-controlled, indicating a processed and validated product.
• Focuses on a specific, high-impact research campaign (HS3 2012-2014).
• Sourced from a dedicated global sensor network (WWLLN) operated by a major university.

Limitations

• Specific column names, row counts, and file sizes are not documented on any platform.
• A conflict exists on data freshness: NASA Earthdata lists a 2014 update, while Data.gov lists a 2026 update, suggesting possible metadata inconsistency.

Provenance

Source

World Wide Lightning Location Network (WWLLN), University of Washington; data provided by NASA.

Collection Method

Collected by a global, ground-based lightning sensor network.

Time Range

2012-2014

Freshness

2026-03-13 01:26:39.971420

Geography

Global