USPLN/NAPLN
c/o WSI Corporation
400 Minuteman Drive
Andover, MA 01810
email Sales
978.983.6648

Archive Lightning Data

Overview
Real-time lightning data generally has a latency (from detection to user display) of less than 1 minute. Near real-time is considered greater than 1 minute latency. These types of data are generally used for operational purposes such as situational awareness, alerting, immediate causal analysis, rapid deployment, personnel and equipment safety, and tactical planning.

In contrast, archived or historical lightning data is any data that is older than 24 hours from time of detection. Historical lightning data of this nature is very valuable for forensic analysis, after-the-fact fault analysis, longer-term logistical and operational planning, claims resolutions, research, statistical analysis, and integration with a variety of market-specific information.

Formats
Archived USPLN lightning data can be obtained in a variety of ways and formats. Data is available for large or small areas, from 2004 to current day. NAPLN data outside of the continental US and GLN data have been archived since late 2008.
  • Premium licensing option in conjunction with real-time data services.
  • Text, XML, KML or shapefile format, which can be ingested into commercial or custom software.
  • Bulk datasets that can be integrated with business data for statistical analysis.
  • Lightning Verification Reports (forensics) to assist in the determination of lightning.
For more information about archival data or for a quotation, email Sales.

Data Content
Archive data files include the following content:
  • Date / Time (UTC); to millisecond precision in datasets after 2008
  • Latitude and longitude (decimal degrees)
  • Peak amplitude of event with signal polarity (amps)
  • Indication of lightning event type
  • Error ellipse major/minor axes (km); orientation of major axis (degrees), in datasets after 2008
Archive file in CSV format:
"2009-06-26 10:23:12","549","42.5628843","-70.4568508","-10700","0.25","0.25","-49"
"2009-06-26 10:24:48","118","42.5448978","-70.3732445","0","0.25","0.25","-49"
"2009-06-26 10:24:48","297","42.5437512","-70.4220905","-20000","0.25","0.25","-43"
"2009-06-26 10:24:48","361","42.5573448","-70.3274864","-16200","0.5","0.25","-43"
"2009-06-26 10:26:06","381","42.5303845","-70.3767344","0","0.5","0.25","-44"
"2009-06-26 10:26:41","574","42.5506026","-70.3984027","-7800","0.5","0.25","-45"
"2009-06-26 10:31:25","279","42.5660926","-70.3597541","-15500","0.5","0.25","-45"
Data may be provided for all parameters or reduced based on customer requirements, such as cloud-to-ground strokes or latitude/longitude information only.
Archive data in KML format plotted in Google Earth:
USPLN Archive Data in Google Earth
Lightning Verification Reports
To learn more about ordering lightning verification reports online, please email Sales.

The USPLN online lightning verification report service provides an easy and intuitive way to order reports following a registration process. The output confirms the presence or absence of lightning strikes at a given address on a specific date(s).

Every report includes a search of the USPLN archive, a detailed color street-level map, a user-defined search period of 1 to 72 hours, a search radius as small as one mile or up to 15 mile radius, a print out of each lightning stroke detected, including date, time, latitude, longitude, polarity, amplitude and range bearing (from the search location to each lightning stroke). The report can be viewed online and stored as a PDF.

Sample Lightning Verification Report


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