Bolts light up Earth’s atmosphere 4 million times a day. Scientists hope to observe a few.
Published Mar 23, 2014
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
A power plant fire left much of the island without electricity.
Published Sep 23, 2016Image of the Day Land Fires Unique Imagery Human Presence Remote Sensing
Radio antennas at the Madrid Deep Space Communications Complex help scientists on Earth keep in touch with distant satellites.
Published Mar 30, 2021
The hurricane took a disproportionate toll on power supplies in remote areas of Puerto Rico.
Published Dec 12, 2018Image of the Day Atmosphere Land Severe Storms Human Presence
Three days after Hurricane Ida, many people in Louisiana are going without electric power due to downed power lines and damaged transmission towers.
Published Sep 1, 2021Image of the Day Land Floods Severe Storms Human Presence Remote Sensing
A power outage left many major American cities in the dark on August 14, 2003. The blackout was apparent from the perspective of space in this pair of DMSP satellite images.
Published Aug 17, 2003
