Satellite Finds That Lightning Is More Likely to Strike Land Than Water

Lightning is much more likely to strike land than water, according to results from the first three months of operation of NASA’s Lightning Imaging Sensor aboard the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission Satellite. From December 1997 through January 1998, the satellite saw that 98% of strikes were over land. The increased lightning activity over land is probably caused by sunlight hitting the land, which in turn triggers atmospheric convection. This carries more water into the upper atmosphere, said weather expert Hugh Christian of NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala. Water vapor and ice crystals are key triggers of lightning.

Compiled by Times medical writer Thomas H. Maugh II