4 ms·

Detecting lightning automatically isn't that hard-- it's a sudden burst of powerful, wideband static. There are several sites where users collaboratively trilat

Detecting lightning automatically isn't that hard-- it's a sudden burst of powerful, wideband static. There are several sites where users collaboratively trilaterate lighting strikes by sharing precise time-of-arrival data-- including live maps! http://en.blitzortung.org/live_dynamic_maps.php?map=11 http://en.blitzortung.org/live_dynamic_maps.php?map=11 The process is fast enough that in a thunderstorm, you'll probably get a packet specifying the lightning's coordinates before you hear the thunder! Here's what the storm looked like: http://i.imgur.com/mkIqnlD.gif http://i.imgur.com/mkIqnlD.gif

Udik 10y ago
You do, and on lightningmaps.org you can even watch on the map the thunder front traveling at the speed of sound. Disappointingly, though, it appears that the lightnings positioning isn't reliable enough to actually predict when you'll be reached by the thunder, let alone go out there and look for a nice piece of fulgurite!
- thaumasiotes 10y ago
  Do what the guy does in Sweet Home Alabama: go off into the wilderness, put up some big metal rods, and after a thunderstorm check the rods for lightning strikes.
  - buro9 10y ago
    Or go build your own lightning field like Walter de Maria https://artappreciation101.files.wordpress.com/2011/06/demaria_the-lightning-field-19771.jpg https://artappreciation101.files.wordpress.com/2011/06/demar... https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/jonathanjonesblog/2013/jul/29/walter-de-maria-art-lightning https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/jonathanjonesblog/2... Of which there is a great description if Geoff Dyer's latest book White Sands.
- ablation 10y ago
  Is that actually the thunder front travelling at the speed of sound? My understanding of how Blitzortung works (and similar sites like Lightningmaps.org) is that animation was just a visual cue to draw the eye rather than trying to replicate the time between a strike and the sound.
  - Udik 10y ago
    On lightningmaps.org yes, you can see the thunder front (if you zoom close enough).
    - ablation 10y ago
      Very interesting! Thanks for pointing that out!
somedangedname 10y ago
> en.blitzortung.org Turn on the visualisation for 'Detectors' to see which reporting stations provided data for each strike. Looks really cool!

Udik 10y ago

You do, and on lightningmaps.org you can even watch on the map the thunder front traveling at the speed of sound. Disappointingly, though, it appears that the lightnings positioning isn't reliable enough to actually predict when you'll be reached by the thunder, let alone go out there and look for a nice piece of fulgurite!

thaumasiotes 10y ago
Do what the guy does in Sweet Home Alabama: go off into the wilderness, put up some big metal rods, and after a thunderstorm check the rods for lightning strikes.
- buro9 10y ago
  Or go build your own lightning field like Walter de Maria https://artappreciation101.files.wordpress.com/2011/06/demaria_the-lightning-field-19771.jpg https://artappreciation101.files.wordpress.com/2011/06/demar... https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/jonathanjonesblog/2013/jul/29/walter-de-maria-art-lightning https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/jonathanjonesblog/2... Of which there is a great description if Geoff Dyer's latest book White Sands.
ablation 10y ago
Is that actually the thunder front travelling at the speed of sound? My understanding of how Blitzortung works (and similar sites like Lightningmaps.org) is that animation was just a visual cue to draw the eye rather than trying to replicate the time between a strike and the sound.
- Udik 10y ago
  On lightningmaps.org yes, you can see the thunder front (if you zoom close enough).
  - ablation 10y ago
    Very interesting! Thanks for pointing that out!

somedangedname 10y ago

> en.blitzortung.org Turn on the visualisation for 'Detectors' to see which reporting stations provided data for each strike. Looks really cool!