Continuous Satellite Surveillance Reveals Lightning's Inescapable Presence in Europe

The European Space Agency's Meteosat Third Generation satellite, equipped with the Lightning Imager, can track and record lightning strikes across more than 80% of Earth's surface visible from its orbit. The satellite's cameras can capture lightning flashes as short as 0.6 milliseconds and take clear pictures at 1,000 images per second. This new technology provides better resolution and the ability to detect weaker lightning strikes compared to existing systems. The data collected will be valuable for weather prediction, particularly in identifying tornadoes and providing early warnings. The European system expands lightning detection to Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, complementing the existing tracking in North and South America.