The map shows average yearly counts of lightning flashes per square kilometer, based on data collected by NASA satellites between 1995 and 2002.
Published Jun 23, 2006
Space-borne sensors extend the record of global lightning detection.
Published Mar 31, 2015
The connection between people and lightning is visible along two of the world’s busiest shipping lanes.
Published Dec 14, 2017Image of the Day Atmosphere Water Human Presence Remote Sensing
Bolts light up Earth’s atmosphere 4 million times a day. Scientists hope to observe a few.
Published Mar 23, 2014
Wildfires in northern Canada and Alaska have been increasing in frequency and area burned. One possible cause is more lightning.
Published Dec 1, 2017
Fifty years ago today, the first American to orbit the planet took this photo of home.
Published Feb 21, 2012
The top of the large thunderstorm, roughly 20 km across, is illuminated by a full moon and frequent bursts of lightning.
Published Jan 21, 2001
Lightning, thunderstorms, and dust storms are normal in India—but not at this intensity.
Published May 25, 2018
Analyzing subtle differences in near-infrared and shortwave-infrared light from the landscape, scientists can provide some measure of the severity of wildfire burns.
Published Oct 14, 2020Image of the Day Heat Land Fires Human Presence Remote Sensing
Red sprites, short-lived flashes caused by intense lightning, are rarely captured on camera.
Published Jul 10, 2012
Transcripts from the flight to the Moon capture some of the wonder and novelty of looking back at Earth.
Published Jul 21, 2014
Within three minutes, astronauts acquired two photographs of elusive red sprite emissions above thunderstorms.
Published Aug 24, 2015
Several lightning-triggered fires were burning near the Tanana River, southwest of Fairbanks, Alaska, on July 7, 2009.
Published Jul 9, 2009
