12/22: world map of lightning

I enjoy new maps of our world and how it operates. This is a map of the frequency of lightning strikes, made possible by new equipment that can locate strikes even in daytime. If you're in Florida, Argentine, or central Africa, make sure you have surge protection.

Man. Central Africa looks like it's not doing too good. There's a lot of plains out there too - I wonder how often people get struck? Or maybe they're so used to it, they know that if it's not sunny out, they shouldn't be anywhere but inside? I dunno. One would think that living there would carry a greater risk though.

OK. 50 strikes per what? permile/year?

And remember the only reason it doesn't strike the same place twice is .... the guy that was standing there is now one with the earth.

Flashes per sq. kilometer per year.

Originally posted by Undertoad

I enjoy new maps of our world and how it operates. .

You're familiar with Edward Tufte's work?

Yes.

I was privileged to attend one of his day-long lectures here in town. It's one thing to see a reproduction of Leonardo's copy of Euclid in one of his textbooks. It's quite another to have the actual book passed around the room. Humbling...

He's a hell of a speaker too. I got him to autrograph the texts.

Originally posted by MaggieL


You're familiar with Edward Tufte's work?

I'm not. I'm an analysis junkie....

I looked over the site and I like the way he thinks...I think I'll be getting familiar with his work soon.


Ever read any George Gamow...?


73's

de KC5ELF


sa

Maps without a good legend tell very little. For example:

Notice the highest frequency of ground strikes is West Virginia; depending on the statistical ratio used. So is FL the lightning capitol of the world? The topmost world lightning maps puts FL somewhere around 5 or 8 in the world. But then that is not ground strikes. Central Africa, hands down, is the world capitol of lightning. Inodnesia is also dominant.

WV has some of the highest CG vs IC lightning strike. One reason offered was the unique geology of that region. Another placed PA with some of the highest numbers of lightning damage claims by dollar amount.

Best part of all these maps - lots of color. Sort of reminds me of ty-dye shirts.

Originally posted by Scopulus Argentarius


Ever read any George Gamow...?

Damn...probably about 40 years ago. Nothing that would make me think of him in the same breath as Tufte. "One, Two, Three...Infinity" was the title, as I recall.

Originally posted by MaggieL

Damn...probably about 40 years ago. Nothing that would make me think of him in the same breath as Tufte. "One, Two, Three...Infinity" was the title, as I recall.

From the surface, both Tufte and Gamow have interest views on analysis. Tufte appears to make information graphically intuitive and understandable while Gamow frames systems and their consequences in a unique and correct way.

I have not read Tufte yet. Gonna be droppin' by the Library; Hopefully, they'll have a book or two.