Lightning Calculator: A Novel Tool for Quantifying Lightning Risk
Lightning is a major atmospheric hazard that can cause physical damage, personal injury, and even death. Lightning strikes have been increasing in frequency and intensity in recent years, making it more important than ever to understand and quantify the risk of lightning strikes in a given area.
In order to address this issue, a research group at the University of Florida has developed the Lightning Calculator, a novel tool for estimating the risk of lightning strikes. The Lightning Calculator uses a combination of existing lightning data and geographic information system (GIS) data to produce an estimate of the lightning risk for a given area. The Lightning Calculator processes data from more than a dozen sources, including the National Lightning Detection Network (NLDN), the Global Lightning Dataset (GLD), and the World Wide Lightning Location Network (WWLLN).
The Lightning Calculator is a web-based tool that is easy to use and does not require any specialized knowledge or expertise. The user simply enters a location and the date range they are interested in, and the Lightning Calculator produces an estimate of the lightning risk for that area. The Lightning Calculator also provides additional information, such as the total number of lightning strikes, the average number of strikes per square kilometer, and the average lightning current.
The Lightning Calculator is an important tool for understanding and quantifying the risk of lightning strikes in a given area. It is a valuable resource for emergency responders, insurance companies, and anyone who needs to assess the risk of lightning strikes in a specific area.
References
Blocker, A. W., Stolzenburg, M. R., Smith, S. A., & Blakeslee, R. J. (2019). Lightning Calculator: A Novel Tool for Quantifying Lightning Risk. Journal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology, 36(3), 479-492. https://doi.org/10.1175/JTECH-D-18-0121.1
Rasmussen, K. J., & Blakeslee, R. J. (2016). The Lightning Calculator: A Web-Based Tool for Estimating Lightning Risk. Weather and Forecasting, 31(2), 629-645. https://doi.org/10.1175/WAF-D-15-0103.1