About the lightning map
When a lightning strike occurs, it produces an electromagnetic pulse. This pulse travels at the speed of light and can be picked up by special sensors that are scattered all around the world. These sensors are a key part of the global lightning detection network.
Each sensor measures the time and the strength of the received pulse. With this information, the data from multiple sensors can be combined to calculate the exact location of the lightning strike, a process known as triangulation. This works in the same way as when you use your phone to find your location with GPS!
Once the exact location is determined, this information is plotted on our digital map. The lightning strikes are displayed as lightning bolts, and with time the bolts fade away. This way, you can follow the path of a thunderstorm in real-time!
