Lightning API

Overview

DTN Lightning API can provide two types of data around lightning strikes, up to 7 days in the past via https://lightning.weather.mg:

• Real-time: This uses the /search endpoint.
• Condensed: This uses the /weighted endpoint.

Real-time data shows every lightning strike that has occurred over a specified period time in a specified region.

Because individual lightning strikes can number thousands in a single thunderstorm, Lightning API also allows you to consume condensed data around the lightning strikes. Condensed data, which is based on the originally reported raw data, is provided using temporal and spatial aggregation.

Data sources used for the Lightning API

DTN delivers real-time, high-quality lightning data on a global scale. Several providers operate lightning detection networks. These networks provide both the location of lightning strikes, and other parameters, such as polarity, strength of current, and height of lightning (in case of inter-cloud strikes).

The Lightning API currently includes data from the following two providers:

• Linet from Nowcast (“NOWCAST”): Premium quality lightning data covering Europe, with inter-cloud and cloud-to-ground strikes, with a location accuracy of about 100m and a detection efficiency of more than 99%.
• GLN from Earth Networks (“ENGLN”): High-quality lightning data on a global scale, for cloud-to-ground-strikes, with a location accuracy of about 300 to 500m and a detection efficiency between 80 and 95% (depending on the region).

Value proposition of the Lightning API

The value proposition of the Lightning API is as listed in the following table, which emphasizes where DTN adds value to core data.

Parameter	Value added
Coverage	Nowcast and Earth Networks data available through one API.
Spatial resolution	DTN aggregates lightning data for better visualization.
Completeness	Lightning location, actual time, intensity, ground, cloud to cloud, height.
Uniqueness	Density map provides unique, derived data.
Availability	The use of two sources provides backup in case of network failure.

Formatting

A sample request using the Lightning API looks like this:

https://lightning.weather.mg/search?provider=NOWCAST,ENTLN&locationWithin=[10,13],[52,5]

The above request will return real-time, raw data for lighting strikes for the specified location (Berlin, Germany) over the last 3 days.

The returned data will be formatted in JSON, and will look like this:

{
        "lightnings":[
                    {
                         "occurredAt":"2017-01-05T12:21:14.974Z",
                         "provider":"NOWCAST",
                         "lightningType":"CLOUD_TO_GROUND",
                         "elevationInKilometers":0,
                         "currentInAmpere":4500,
                         "location":[
                            9.6345,
                            19.3064
                         ]
                      },
                      {
                         "occurredAt":"2017-01-05T12:21:14.974Z",
                         "provider":"ENTLN",
                         "lightningType":"CLOUD_TO_GROUND",
                         "elevationInKilometers":0,
                         "currentInAmpere":4700,
                         "location":[
                            8.6345,
                            20.3064
                         ]
                      },
                       {
                          "provider": "NOWCAST",
                          "occurredAt": "2017-01-05T12:20:14.974Z",
                          "elevationInKilometers": 0,
                          "lightningType": "CLOUD_TO_GROUND",
                          "currentInAmpere": -3500,
                          "location": [
                            9.3345,
                            19.7064
                          ]
                        }
                   ]
                }
        

Nitty-Gritty

For more detailed information on this API, check us out on Bitbucket.