NAMMA Lightning Detection Network Data from 2006 Campaign

Thirteen ground stations across Europe, Africa, and Brazil collected global lightning activity data from August 1 to October 1, 2006. This dataset was generated for the NASA African Monsoon Multidisciplinary Analyses campaign to study African Easterly Waves and Mesoscale Convective Systems. The network provides high temporal resolution of 1 millisecond and spatial accuracy ranging from 10-20 km within the network to over 50 km outside its periphery.

Use Cases

• Analyzing the temporal evolution of lightning strikes with 1-millisecond precision.
• Mapping the spatial distribution of lightning activity over Africa and the Atlantic during the monsoon season.
• Correlating lightning data with other NAMMA campaign observations to study Mesoscale Convective Systems.
• Investigating the relationship between African Easterly Waves and associated lightning patterns.

Strengths

• Data originates from a network of thirteen ground stations, providing multi-continental coverage.
• Offers high temporal resolution of 1 millisecond for precise event timing.
• Collected during a focused NASA field campaign (NAMMA) with a defined scientific mission.

Limitations

• Specific column names and the total row count are not provided by any source.
• Sources conflict on the last updated date: one states 2006-10-01, while others list 2026 03-12, suggesting a metadata error.
• Spatial accuracy degrades to over 50 km outside the core network periphery.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Science Mission Directorate.

Collection Method

Data obtained from radio atmospheric signals (sferics) using the World-ZEUS Long Range Lightning Monitoring Network. Time determined by Arrival Time Difference between receiver pairs.

Time Range

2006-08-01 to 2006-10-01

Freshness

2006-10-01 00:01:53

Geography

Global coverage, with ground stations across Europe, Africa, and Brazil. Campaign based in the Cape Verde Islands, off the coast of Senegal.