Knowledge · basics

What is lightning?

stormslightningbasicsPlanetnik

In short

Lightning is a rapid electrical discharge in the atmosphere. It can occur inside a cloud, between clouds or between a cloud and the ground. We see the flash and hear thunder, caused by rapid heating and expansion of air around the lightning channel.

Where do thunderstorms come from?

A thunderstorm is a convective weather phenomenon. In simple terms: warm, moist air rises and interacts with colder air higher in the atmosphere. This can support storm clouds, heavy rain, wind gusts, hail and lightning.

What do we actually observe?

People usually notice a flash and thunder. A measurement device such as StormNode observes the event differently: through electromagnetic signals, environmental data, event time, node location and additional context such as a sky photo.

How does this connect to Planetnik?

Planetnik is not meant to replace professional meteorological systems. We want to build a local observation layer: multiple StormNode devices that help notice storm activity in specific areas and enrich it with weather data and telemetry.

What should not be concluded from this?

A single measurement is not a complete picture of a storm. Lightning detection, distance, signal strength or a sky photo require interpretation, comparison with other data and a careful approach.

Sources and further reading

Want to read next?

See how StormNode combines local detection with telemetry, photos and API access.

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