Lightning also produces energy in the form of light, heat and atomic energy such as X-rays and gamma rays. These provide information about the energy released, in the form of electrical current in channels to ground. VHF sensors operate in the range of 10 to 100 megahertz and are spaced close togetherAbout a dozen VHF arrays exist nationwide, including at the University of Alabama in Huntsville, New Mexico Tech, and the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.īy contrast, low frequency (LF) arrays image larger-scale lightning activity, such as the long channels of electricity in cloud-to-ground and intra-cloud flashes. Very high frequency (VHF) arrays, collections of sensors that measure electromagnetic radiation, capture images of the fine branching structures of a lightning strike. 'The higher the frequency you go to, the smaller the object you get to image,' Cummins said. Three different systems capture lightning discharges over a range of different frequencies, which correspond to the energies being produced. One of the most critical are lightning mapping arrays, which are networks of electromagnetic sensors that home in on the fiery flashes and measure the energy they release. Lightning-sensing systems have been evolving since the time radios were developed around the turn of the 20 th century, Cummins said. 'We've gotten pretty good at being able to quantify the number of cloud-to-ground discharges in a region, and we're getting better at quantifying the number and nature of intra-cloud discharges,' Cummins told LiveScience. While lightning that strikes the ground poses the most direct threat to humans and infrastructure, lightning between or within clouds can provide warning of dangerous hail and tornadoes, said Kenneth Cummins, an atmospheric scientist at the University of Arizona, in Tucson. The wrath of Zeus takes two forms: cloud-to-ground lightning and intra-cloud lightning. Never walk, swim, or drive through floodwater.Lightning strikes more than 250,000 people each year worldwide. Move to higher ground before floodwaters reach you. If you are driving and can’t get to a sturdy building, pull off the road and park in a place where falling trees and power lines won’t hit you.Being in a vehicle is safer than being outside however, if you have time, drive to the closest sturdy building, and take shelter inside.You could also be killed or injured by strong winds blowing down trees and branches. It is dangerous to take shelter under a tree as it is the leading cause of death from lightning strikes.Sheds, gazebos, dugouts, and bleachers do not protect from lightning and high winds.If you are caught outside in a thunderstorm, keep moving toward a safe shelter. Remember, no place outside is safe when thunderstorms are in the area.Lightning can travel through plumbing and water lines. Avoid using devices connected to electrical outlets.Lightning can be dangerous even when you are inside.Stay inside until weather forecasts indicate it is safe to leave. When you hear thunder, seek shelter inside a sturdy building and move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest floor.Postpone outdoor activities if the forecast calls for thunderstorms. Pay attention to weather alerts and local information.

Lightning strikes history by zip code