20260302
15285500
1.0
ISO19115_3
002
SRK_Lightning_Hazard
Geographic
GCS_Hartebeesthoek_1994
Angular Unit: Degree (0.017453)
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20260311
14593900
FALSE
20260311
14593900
<div style="font-family:'Segoe UI';font-size:14px;font-style:normal;font-weight:400;line-height:20px;">Lightning data were collected using the <strong>Southern African Lightning Detection Network (SALDN)</strong>, 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 <strong>average annual cloud‑to‑ground lightning flash density (flashes/km²/year)</strong>. Additional averaged parameters include <strong>average flash multiplicity (strokes per flash)</strong>, <strong>median peak current (kA)</strong>, and <strong>average percentage of positive‑polarity lightning</strong>.</div>
SRK_Lightning_Hazard
Lightning
Cloud‑to‑ground lightning
Lightning climatology
Ground flash density
SAWS
WeatherSA
SALDN
Disaster risk
Infrastructure risk
South Africa
This dataset represents averaged lightning climatology metrics for South Africa derived from the Southern African Lightning Detection Network (SALDN) operated by the South African Weather Service (SAWS). The primary metric is average annual cloud‑to‑ground lightning flash density, expressed as flashes per square kilometre per year, with supporting averaged attributes including flash multiplicity, median peak current, and percentage of positive lightning flashes.
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)
<div style="font-family:'Segoe UI';font-size:14px;font-style:normal;font-weight:400;line-height:20px;"><ul><li>Data may be subject to <strong>SAWS cost‑recovery and licensing conditions</strong>.</li><li>Redistribution without written permission from SAWS may be restricted.</li></ul><div style="font-family:'Segoe UI';font-size:14px;font-style:normal;font-weight:400;line-height:20px;"><ul><li>Detection efficiency varies spatially across South Africa.</li><li>Dataset represents <strong>detected lightning</strong>, not all lightning occurrences.</li><li>Values are <strong>climatological averages</strong>, not real‑time or event‑scale measurements. <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www-cdn.eumetsat.int/files/2021-10/LI_MAG12_D109_Enno_SAWS_LLS_vs_GLD360.pdf">[www-cdn.eumetsat.int]</a></li></ul></div></div>
Esri ArcGIS 13.6.0.59527
dataset
20260311
Enterprise Geodatabase Feature Class
EPSG
4.5(8.1.0)
SRK_Lightning_Hazard
Feature Class
0
OBJECTID
OBJECTID
OID
4
10
0
Internal feature number.
Esri
Sequential unique whole numbers that are automatically generated.
LDR.SRK_Lightning_Hazard.AREA
LDR.SRK_Lightning_Hazard.AREA
Double
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Shape
Shape
Geometry
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Feature geometry.
Esri
Coordinates defining the features.
AREA
AREA
Double
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0
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PERIMETER
PERIMETER
Double
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38
8
LIGHTNING_
LIGHTNING_
Double
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38
8
LIGHTNING1
LIGHTNING1
Double
8
38
8
FLASH_DENS
FLASH_DENS
SmallInteger
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5
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Shape.STArea()
Shape.STArea()
Double
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Shape.STLength()
Shape.STLength()
Double
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Lightning_Hazard
Lightning_Hazard
Double
8
38
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Simple
FALSE
0
TRUE
FALSE