Near real-time sources of lightning strike data

Question

I am wondering if anyone has any suggestions on sources of near real-time lightning strike data available for download? For example, Intellicast.com has a map of strikes, but makes no mention of the source of the data they used. Update: Apparently Intellicast gets its data from WSI Corp, which runs the USPLN, linked below.

Key attributes would be date/time and lat/long (any additional is just bonus), and strikes that occurred as much as 24 hours previously are logged and available. It could be in a text/table form (which can be converted to a spatial table), but if it is in a GIS ready format, that would be great too.

I know of a couple of paid sources:

• Vaisala
• WeatherBank
• USPLN

Other sources I have stumbled across:

• blitzortung.org- I haven't figured out how to get the source strike data from the site
• According to an 2007 blog entry, GuiWeather.com used to supply weather data to Google Earth, but the site is no longer active.

Is anyone aware of any other paid/free sources of lightning strike data?

UPDATE: Someone posted & deleted a good website for many resources of lightning data. The NWA Remote Sensing Committee. It provides a good overview of research and data providers, too.

Answer 1

EarthNetworks

Earth Networks Total Lightning NetworkTM (ENTLN)

"incorporates patent pending systems and methods for the detection of lightning activity to provide unmatched global IC and CG detection efficiency. It is the first integrated in-cloud (IC) lightning and cloud-to-ground (CG) detection network deployed on a global basis capable of detecting long range IC lightning at high efficiencies critical for the advanced prediction of severe weather phenomena such as:"

Tornadoes/cyclones
Heavy rainfall/monsoons
Downburst winds/wind shear
Cloud-to-Ground lightning strikes

'Approximately 600 wideband lightning sensors deployed globally' PDF http://www.earthnetworks.com/Portals/0/pdf/ENTLN%20Global%20Slick_v4.pdf

Answer 2

Weatherbug Professional has a paid lightning strike service:

• Current Lightning - Lightning latitude/longitude, strength and type (cloud-to-ground, cloud-tocloud) of strikes that have occurred in the last 2 minutes.
• 15 Minute Lightning - Lightning latitude/longitude, strength and type (cloud-to-ground, cloudto-cloud) of strikes that have occurred in the last 15 minutes.
• 30 Minute Lightning - Lightning latitude/longitude, strength and type (cloud-to-ground, cloudto-cloud) of strikes that have occurred in the last 30 minutes.

See page 10 of this PDF.

Answer 3

Canada - Canadian Lightning Detection Network
United States - National Lightning Detection Network

Which together comprise "the North American Lightning Detection Network (NALDN) that monitors lightning in most of North America. The NALDN is the largest lightning detection network in the world." (though it's not mentioned if Mexico participates).

The US information page mentions formats of ASCII, Binary (proprietary Type 97), XML, KML, BUFR, GRIB and delivery options so of "real-time (less than 15 seconds latency), near real-time (>1 minute bins) or in archive format (>24 hours). The delivery mechanism is via satellite, secure shell Ethernet/internet (TCP/IP), FCP, or ‘NOAA’ port."

I didn't locate any information on how to access the data, paid or otherwise. I'm sure it's just a matter of more digging.

Answer 4

GPATS (warning, horrible web site design) will sell you a data service available in Australia, Germany and the USA, or hardware to build your own. They have some sample data for Australia, but it wouldn't be easy to post-process.