2019 Lightning Activity Review Using Vaisala’s NLDN and GLD360 Networks

Lightning climatology is generally consistent year after year, with some regions reliably seeing more convective activity, while other areas rarely experience thunderstorms. However, the presence or absence of a few big storms can dramatically increase or reduce the amount of lightning in a given area each calendar year. This talk reviews and analyzes lightning activity from 2019, comparing it to the expected annual activity for both CONUS and from a global view.

First, we review the 30-year history of the two Vaisala lightning location networks that are the data source for this analysis: NLDN & GLD360. Both networks are designed to maximize consistency across the coverage area to produce standardized results to increase research efficacy. Recent upgrades to the processing algorithms have produced new capabilities, such as the ability to distinguish both cloud (IC) vs ground (CG) events globally with GLD360, and some previously collected data can be updated with the new algorithm to produce more standard results for comparison.

After establishing the baseline for the data used in the analysis, we then provide detail of lightning density during the 2019 calendar year – from global to regional levels, including both cloud (IC) and cloud-to-ground (CG) lightning observations – comparing last year’s results to the long-term averages.

Finally, considering the AMS 100 Annual Meeting Theme – The AMS Past, Present, Future: Linking Information to Knowledge to Society – we conclude with points on how lightning observations serve society through increased lightning safety, improved forecasts, and other benefits.