Earth Networks, operator of a nationwide lightning detection network in Sri Lanka, released its first ever 2020 South Asia Lightning Report this week, covering India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka. During 2020, there were 14,462,297 lightning strikes in Sri Lanka recorded by Earth Networks’ Total Lightning Network, 572,729 of which were dangerous cloud-to ground strikes. The top five provinces with the most lightning strikes in 2020 were Uva, North Central, Eastern, Sabaragamuwa, and North Western Province, the organisation said in a media release.
Sri Lanka saw the highest concentration of lightning in April of 2020. There were 1,835 Dangerous Thunderstorm Alerts issued in Sri Lanka in 2020, correlating with the large volume of lightning strikes recorded.
With Earth Networks’ presence in Sri Lanka comes real-time lightning detection, alerting, and storm-tracking technology needed to minimise lightning-related deaths, injuries, and property damage. These weather safety awareness and lightning warning tools help build resilience and reduce risk for those exposed to severe weather.
The statement said that it is Earth Networks’ mission to enable a safer, more prosperous world through the dissemination of early warning for natural disasters such as thunderstorms, flooding, and severe storms. The company offers comprehensive visualization and alerting tools such as automatic warnings and estimated time of arrival for dangerous storms to help save lives and reduce property damage. Currently, Earth Networks works with various central and state agencies, universities, and private industry sectors in the region.
Earth Networks’ partnership with Dialog has enabled the rapid growth of the nationwide lightning detection network. Earth Networks also provides information about severe weather, weather forecasts, and historical data to better prepare the population of Sri Lanka for weather-related events.
Government agencies that benefit from Earth Networks Total Lightning Network include disaster management and emergency management agencies in the region. Commercial industries that benefit from the Total Lightning Network include aviation, shipping, agriculture, fisheries, and tourism, the statement said.
“The expansion of the Earth Networks Total Lightning Network in Sri Lanka results in more accurate data collection and severe weather predictions,” said Kumar Margasahayam, Regional Manager of Asia at Earth Networks. “Making sure that the population is not only aware of the consequences of severe weather events, but also being notified before it happens, is crucial to keeping people and communities safe.”
It said that one of the most important roles that disaster management agencies and NGOs can play is in imparting education to even the most remote villages, so people understand what actions need to be taken when they receive alerts or warnings.
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