Global Lightning Flash Rate Annual Climatology Time Series

Global lightning flash rate climatologies are derived from merged satellite observations by the Optical Transient Detector and Lightning Imaging Sensor. The dataset provides annual time series data in gridded format at a 2.5-degree resolution, with a long record from LIS in tropical and subtropical regions and OTD data for higher latitudes. This dataset is produced by the National Aeronautics Space Administration.

Use Cases

• Analyzing long-term trends in global lightning activity using annual flash rate time series.
• Comparing lightning climatology between tropical regions (from LIS) and high latitudes (from OTD).
• Studying the spatial distribution of lightning flash rates across 2.5-degree gridded cells.
• Investigating correlations between lightning frequency and other atmospheric or climatic variables.

Strengths

• Merges data from two satellite instruments, LIS and OTD, for a more complete global picture.
• Provides a long observational record, particularly from LIS for tropics and subtropics.
• Offers gridded climatologies at a consistent 2.5-degree spatial resolution.

Limitations

• High latitude data relies solely on OTD, which may have a shorter or different observational record than LIS.
• Conflicting last updated dates exist between platforms (2015 vs. 2026), casting doubt on data currency.
• Specific row counts, file sizes, and detailed column names are not provided by any source.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Collection Method

Satellite observations from the Optical Transient Detector and Lightning Imaging Sensor.

Freshness

2026-03-13 00:56:01.198430

Geography

Global, with detailed coverage equatorward of about 38 degrees from LIS and high latitude coverage from OTD.