Description: Lightning data were collected using the Southern African Lightning Detection Network (SALDN), a ground‑based VLF/LF lightning detection system operational since 2006. Individual lightning strokes detected by multiple sensors were grouped into flashes using space–time clustering algorithms. Daily lightning flash counts were aggregated spatially onto a regular grid and temporally averaged over a multi‑year period to produce climatological averages. The primary output is average annual cloud‑to‑ground lightning flash density (flashes/km²/year). Additional averaged parameters include average flash multiplicity (strokes per flash), median peak current (kA), and average percentage of positive‑polarity lightning.
Service Item Id: f5f7764ef81a4c5ab01d3b0b00394106
Copyright Text: Data Owner
South African Weather Service (SAWS)
Data Producer
South African Weather Service – Nowcasting and Very Short Range Forecasting Group
Sensor / Network Provider
Vaisala Lightning Detection System (SALDN)
Description: Dataset part of the South African Climatology and Agrohydrology Atlas of 2006.This project was funded by the Water Research Commission and the National Research Foundation. For more info see preface and overview documents in