• Weather forecasting: Help predict severe weather for public warning
• Electric power utilities: Pre-position field crews for approaching storm threats and to improve engineering and design with lightning analysis
• Air traffic control: Re-route aircraft around hazardous thunderstorms
• Airports: Suspend high-risk activities like fueling during lightning threats
• Insurance and arson: Investigate lightning as the cause of property damage or fire
• Power-sensitive manufacturing and processing operations: Prepare for storm-caused power outages by switching to back-up power early
• Hazardous materials handling: Warn personnel working near explosives and flammable materials to evacuate
• Forestry: Dispatch crews to suspected fire starts for more successful initial attack
• Golf and outdoor recreation: Warn players to seek safety from storms
• Launch facilities: Monitor for safest weather conditions for shuttle and satellite launches

Lightning Data Information

The NLDN® dataset product includes delivery of highest quality lightning data in areas covering the continental United States. The lightning data includes cloud-to-ground stroke information, cloud-to-ground flash information and survey level cloud lightning information.

The lightning data file includes the following information (as a minimum):

• Date and Time (UTC with milliseconds accuracy)
• Latitude and Longitude (location)
• Error Ellipse with major and minor semi axis (km)
• Peak amplitude (kA)
• Polarity (+/-)
• Type of event: Cloud or Cloud to Ground designation

Lightning Data Format

The NLDN® data can be provided in various formats, including but not limited to the following:

• ASCII
• Binary (proprietary Type 97)
• XML
• Others as requested such as KML, BUFR, GRIB

Lightning Data Delivery Mechanism

The NLDN® provides the fastest delivery of high quality lightning data over the continental United States. The NLDN® data can be delivered in real-time (less than 15 seconds latency), near real-time (>1 minute bins) or in archive format (>24 hours). The delivery mechanism is via satellite, secure shell Ethernet/internet (TCP/IP), FCP, or ‘NOAA’ port.

NLDN® Network Specifications

• Thunderstorm detection efficiency in excess of 99%
• Flash detection efficiency greater than 95%
• Median location accuracy of 250-500m or better
• Network uptimes nearing 99.99%
• Data feed uptimes of better than 99.9%
• Event timing precision of 1 microsecond RMS
• Accurate peak current measurements