This image shows the rays that the GLM captured during one hour on February 14, 2017. Image - NOAA
Lightning seen from Earth is impressive, but… can you imagine being able to see it from space? Now that dream can become a reality, only instead of being on a spacecraft we can enjoy the images without leaving home thanks to the Geostationary Lightning Mapper (GLM) aboard NOAA's GOES-16 satellite.
Thanks to these images, meteorologists will be able to predict much more easily where lightning and thunder will strike.
The GLM is an instrument designed to detect lightning in geostationary orbit, transmitting data that, until now, has been unavailable to scientists. The mapper relentlessly searches for any activity in the Western Hemisphere, which will help detect storms . This capability is crucial for a better understanding of atmospheric phenomena , including those caused by volcanic eruptions.
If there is heavy rain, the data obtained will show whether the storms are weakening or intensifying. This data will be combined with other data obtained by radar and other satellites, and will be very useful information for anticipating severe weather and issuing alerts and warnings further in advance.
This GLM animation shows lightning associated with a system that produced severe thunderstorms and some tornadoes in Texas on February 14, 2017. Image - NOAA
The GLM is also capable of detecting lightning within the cloud, which often takes at least five minutes to reach the ground. This time may not seem like much, but it is crucial for alerting everyone engaged in outdoor activities to the formation of a storm and thus preventing potential damage. To better understand the impact of these events, it is important to know the types of meteors that can occur in different situations, including those that may be related to volcanic clouds that sometimes generate lightning.
If you want to know more about the GOES-16 satellite, click here.
