6 ms·

Real-Time Lightning Map

25 points by leonvonblut 11y ago

fenomas 11y ago
It took me an unpleasantly long time to figure out that this is a map of lighTning, as in the weather phenomena. Not lighting maps for rendering.
artursapek 11y ago
Where does this pull real-time lightning data from?
- Gys 11y ago
  'Lightning data by Blitzortung.org and contributors • Blitzortung.org is a free community project' The data is collected by volunteers who have a certain device at home which is connected to the internet. Its doing this for several years now I think.
nightbrawler 11y ago
This is awesome! I live down the road from "The Lightning Field" art installation ... Will be cool to see how accurate this is for our remote area http://www.diaart.org/sites/main/lightningfield http://www.diaart.org/sites/main/lightningfield https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lightning_Field https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lightning_Field
Gys 11y ago
I looked at blitzortung.org once because I was interested in detecting lighting while being on a boat. Especially to know the distance (the direction can be seen). But a device can only measure the moment of discharge. Only in combination with other devices a position of the lightning can be established. Maybe somebody wants to have a go at this. Because there are a lot of very expensive boats out there. Especially the ones with carbon masts...
- toomuchtodo 11y ago
  The data is small enough you could receive the stream over Inmarsat or Iridium. And before you rebutt cost, I know exactly how much those carbon mast boats cost.
  - Gys 11y ago
    The other devices (preferably more then one) should be on other boats to be effective out on the oceans. So there is bit of a chicken en egg problem: not very useful if you are the only user. It would be a project to discuss with a big freight company. One that has already many boats out there anyway. Maybe to get it started and financed.
    - toomuchtodo 11y ago
      Have you looked at XM weather? I believe it'll show lightening strikes. It has a subscription, but is of course broadcast only via the XM satellite. http://www.xmwxweather.com/marine/ http://www.xmwxweather.com/marine/
      - Gys 11y ago
        Never knew of XM weather. But the reception is only in US & Canada so I guess only interesting for coastal areas ? Nevertheless, I wonder where they get their lightning data. Which is US-only according to the website.
deleted 11y ago
[deleted]
mhb 11y ago
Is there a way to show where detectors are located? Otherwise how to know if there is no lightning in an area or no detectors?
- thexa4 11y ago
  If you click the "Stations: off" button it shows participating stations. Stations that measured the lightning strike are indicated in purple for a short moment.
  - mhb 11y ago
    Ah. Thanks. It was hard to see those little dots.

25 points by leonvonblut 11y ago

It took me an unpleasantly long time to figure out that this is a map of lighTning, as in the weather phenomena. Not lighting maps for rendering.

artursapek 11y ago

Where does this pull real-time lightning data from?

Gys 11y ago
'Lightning data by Blitzortung.org and contributors • Blitzortung.org is a free community project' The data is collected by volunteers who have a certain device at home which is connected to the internet. Its doing this for several years now I think.

nightbrawler 11y ago

This is awesome! I live down the road from "The Lightning Field" art installation ... Will be cool to see how accurate this is for our remote area http://www.diaart.org/sites/main/lightningfield http://www.diaart.org/sites/main/lightningfield https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lightning_Field https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lightning_Field

Gys 11y ago

I looked at blitzortung.org once because I was interested in detecting lighting while being on a boat. Especially to know the distance (the direction can be seen). But a device can only measure the moment of discharge. Only in combination with other devices a position of the lightning can be established. Maybe somebody wants to have a go at this. Because there are a lot of very expensive boats out there. Especially the ones with carbon masts...

toomuchtodo 11y ago
The data is small enough you could receive the stream over Inmarsat or Iridium. And before you rebutt cost, I know exactly how much those carbon mast boats cost.
- Gys 11y ago
  The other devices (preferably more then one) should be on other boats to be effective out on the oceans. So there is bit of a chicken en egg problem: not very useful if you are the only user. It would be a project to discuss with a big freight company. One that has already many boats out there anyway. Maybe to get it started and financed.
  - toomuchtodo 11y ago
    Have you looked at XM weather? I believe it'll show lightening strikes. It has a subscription, but is of course broadcast only via the XM satellite. http://www.xmwxweather.com/marine/ http://www.xmwxweather.com/marine/
    - Gys 11y ago
      Never knew of XM weather. But the reception is only in US & Canada so I guess only interesting for coastal areas ? Nevertheless, I wonder where they get their lightning data. Which is US-only according to the website.

deleted 11y ago

[deleted]

mhb 11y ago

Is there a way to show where detectors are located? Otherwise how to know if there is no lightning in an area or no detectors?

thexa4 11y ago
If you click the "Stations: off" button it shows participating stations. Stations that measured the lightning strike are indicated in purple for a short moment.
- mhb 11y ago
  Ah. Thanks. It was hard to see those little dots.