The map shows average yearly counts of lightning flashes per square kilometer, based on data collected by NASA satellites between 1995 and 2002.
Image of the Day Atmosphere
The connection between people and lightning is visible along two of the world’s busiest shipping lanes.
Image 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.
Image of the Day Atmosphere Remote Sensing
Wildfires in northern Canada and Alaska have been increasing in frequency and area burned. One possible cause is more lightning.
Image of the Day Heat Life
Lightning, thunderstorms, and dust storms are normal in India—but not at this intensity.
Image of the Day Atmosphere Human Presence Remote Sensing
Analyzing subtle differences in near-infrared and shortwave-infrared light from the landscape, scientists can provide some measure of the severity of wildfire burns.
Image of the Day Heat Land Fires Human Presence Remote Sensing
Transcripts from the flight to the Moon capture some of the wonder and novelty of looking back at Earth.
Image of the Day Atmosphere Land Water Human Presence
The top of the large thunderstorm, roughly 20 km across, is illuminated by a full moon and frequent bursts of lightning.
Severe Storms
Within three minutes, astronauts acquired two photographs of elusive red sprite emissions above thunderstorms.
Image of the Day Atmosphere Severe Storms