In India, deaths caused by lightning strikes could soon be reduced. Scientists have developed a system that will provide warnings up to three hours before a lightning strike occurs. This system will give farmers and outdoor workers enough time to seek shelter and stay safe. The National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) scientists have created this system by utilizing India’s Insat-3D satellite.
This satellite, located 36,000 kilometers above the Earth, is capable of detecting atmospheric changes from space. It measures changes in outgoing longwave radiation (OLR), which refers to the heat energy released from Earth into space. By tracking this, the system can predict the likelihood of a lightning strike. Unlike older systems that gave a warning only 30 minutes in advance, this new system offers a longer time frame. Scientists claim that the accuracy of this system is between 75% and 85%.
Over One Lakh Lives Lost
Every year, during the monsoon season, many lives are lost due to lightning strikes in India. According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), between 2002 and 2022, 52,477 people died from lightning strikes in India. Another scientific study revealed that more than 100,000 people lost their lives between 1967 and 2020. If a system to warn people before a lightning strike was available, many of these deaths could have been prevented.
Detecting Lightning Strikes with Ease
The key to predicting lightning lies in tracking Outgoing Longwave Radiation (OLR). This radiation is essentially the heat energy that Earth sends back into space. Using India’s Insat-3D satellite, NRSC scientists discovered that there are significant changes in OLR right before a lightning strike occurs.
Satellites Can Detect Shifting Patterns
According to Alok Tawari, the lead of NRSC’s research team, when the ground heats up, it creates a low-pressure area, causing warm air to rise quickly, forming thunderstorms. This leads to a drop in OLR levels. In simple terms, before a lightning strike, the heat pattern of the Earth changes in a way that satellites can detect. It’s similar to how the steam pattern changes when a kettle is about to boil. Tawari explained that when a storm forms, some of the radiation emitted by the Earth gets trapped. This reduction in radiation is visible through satellites, and it can signal the development of a thunderstorm.
Scientists Create the ‘Composite Indicator’
The team’s approach combines data from three satellite measurements: the Land Surface Temperature (LST), which shows how hot the land is; Cloud Motion Vector (CMV), which tracks the movement and changes in clouds; and OLR. By analyzing these factors together, the scientists created a ‘Composite Indicator’ that can show significant changes up to three hours before a lightning strike. This gives enough time to warn vulnerable communities and take preventive action.
This innovative system promises to save lives by providing critical early warnings of dangerous lightning events.
