We are in the process of migrating all NASA Earth science data sites into Earthdata from now until end of 2026. Not all NASA Earth science data and resources will appear here until then. Thank you for your patience as we make this transition.
Read about the Web Unification Project
Lightning Data Access and Tools
From discovery to visualization, our data tools guide users in making the most of lightning data.
Lightning Datasets
| Dataset Sort descending | Version | Platform | Instrument | Temporal Extent | Spatial Extent | Spatial Resolution | Data Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OLS ANALOG DERIVED LIGHTNING V1 | 1 | DMSP 5D-2/F10, DMSP 5D-2/F9, DMSP 5D-1/F1, DMSP 5D-2/F8, DMSP 5D-2/F7, DMSP 5B/F3 | OLS | 1973-06-01 to 1991-12-16 |
N: 90 S: -90 E: 180 W: -180 |
HDF4 | |
| OLS DIGITAL DERIVED LIGHTNING FROM DMSP F10 V1 | 1 | DMSP 5D-2/F10 | OLS | 1994-02-01 to 1994-05-31 |
N: 90 S: -90 E: 180 W: -180 |
HDF4 | |
| OLS DIGITAL DERIVED LIGHTNING FROM DMSP F12 V1 | 1 | DMSP 5D-2/F12 | OLS | 1995-05-01 to 1995-11-30 |
N: 90 S: -90 E: 180 W: -180 |
HDF4 | |
| OPTICAL TRANSIENT DETECTOR (OTD) LIGHTNING V1 | 1 | OrbView-1 | OTD | 1995-04-13 to 2000-03-23 |
N: 70 S: -70 E: 180 W: -180 |
HDF4 | |
| PEM Tropics B Lightning Data | 1 | Data Analysis | 1999-03-05 to 1999-04-12 |
N: 40 S: -36.33 E: 180 W: -180 |
EPS | ||
| PEM West B Lightning Data | 1 | DMSP | OLS | 1994-02-01 to 1994-03-01 |
N: 2.6 S: 2.4 E: 87.6 W: 87.4 |
GTE | |
| Quality Controlled Lightning Imaging Sensor (LIS) on International Space Station (ISS) Backgrounds V2 | 2 | ISS | LIS | 2017-03-01 to 2023-11-16 |
N: 55 S: -55 E: 180 W: -180 |
HDF4, netCDF-4 | |
| Quality Controlled Lightning Imaging Sensor (LIS) on International Space Station (ISS) Backgrounds V3 | 3 | ISS | LIS | 2017-03-01 to 2023-11-16 |
N: 55 S: -55 E: 180 W: -180 |
netCDF-4 - HDF4 | |
| Quality Controlled Lightning Imaging Sensor (LIS) on International Space Station (ISS) Science Data V2 | 2 | ISS | LIS | 2017-03-01 to 2023-11-16 |
N: 55 S: -55 E: 180 W: -180 |
netCDF-4, HDF4 | |
| Quality Controlled Lightning Imaging Sensor (LIS) on International Space Station (ISS) Science Data V3 | 3 | ISS | LIS | 2017-03-01 to 2023-11-16 |
N: 55 S: -55 E: 180 W: -180 |
netCDF-4 - HDF4 | |
| Remote sensing of Electrification, Lightning, And Mesoscale/microscale Processes with Adaptive Ground Observations (RELAMPAGO) Lightning Mapping Array (LMA) V1 | 1 | GROUND STATIONS | LMA | 2018-11-08 to 2019-04-20 |
N: -29.856 S: -33.464 E: -61.959 W: -66.166 |
ASCII, HDF5, netCDF-4 | |
| SASS (Subsonics Assessment) Ozone and NOx Experiment (SONEX) Ancillary Data | 1 | CLIMATE MODELS | Computer | 1997-10-07 to 1997-11-13 | GIF, EPS | ||
| SASS (Subsonics Assessment) Ozone and NOx Experiment (SONEX) Supplementary Data | 1 | NLDN, SATELLITES | OTD | 1997-10-13 to 1997-11-13 | GIF | ||
| SEAC4RS Analysis and Ancillary Data | 1 | GOES-17, GOES-16 | CCD IMAGER, GOES-16 Imager | 2013-07-30 to 2013-09-24 | NetCDF-3 | ||
| TRMM TROPICAL CYCLONE PRECIPITATION FEATURE (TCPF) DATABASE - LEVEL 1 V1 | 1 | TRMM | LIS, PR, TMI, VIRS | 1997-12-08 to 2011-12-30 |
N: 39.11 S: -39.14 E: 180 W: -179.98 |
HDF4 | |
| Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) Lightning Imaging Sensor (LIS) Annual Thunder Hour | 1 | TRMM | LIS | 1998-01-01 to 2015-04-08 |
N: 37.75 S: -37.75 E: 180 W: -180 |
netCDF-4 | |
| Wallops Flight Facility Lightning Mapping Array (LMA) | 1 | GROUND STATIONS | LMA | 2020-01-01 |
N: 39.891 S: 36.294 E: -73.304 W: -77.875 |
ASCII | |
| Washington, D.C. Lightning Mapping Array (LMA) | 1 | GROUND STATIONS | LMA | 2020-02-08 |
N: 40.688 S: 37.091 E: -74.724 W: -79.346 |
ASCII | |
| World Wide Lightning Location Network (WWLLN) Monthly Thunder Hour Data | 1 | WWLLN | VLF RECEIVERS | 2013-01-01 to 2025-12-31 |
N: 90 S: -90 E: 180 W: -180 |
netCDF-4 |
Lightning Data Tools
| Tool Sort descending | Description | Services | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Field Campaign Explorer | The Field Campaign Explorer is an open source, cloud-based tool that combines multiple datasets to generate 3D views of atmospheric phenomena. | Analysis, Search and Discovery, Visualization | |
| LIS Space Time Domain Search | The Lightning Imaging Sensor (LIS) Space Time Domain Search allows users to quickly perform a space time domain search of LIS science products. | Search and Discovery |
SHOWING 2 OF 2
Frequently Asked Questions
Earthdata Forum
Our online forum provides a space for users to browse thousands of FAQs about research needs, data, and data applications. You can also submit new questions for our experts to answer.
Submit Questions to Earthdata Forumand View Expert Responses