Impressive 800% increase of lightning activity in Arctic
Lightning activity does not spread equally over the globe. Equatorial and tropical regions are highly subjected to lightning. High temperature and very high level of humidity are creating frequent convective phenomenon, ending into thunderstorms.
Most lightning prone areas in the world are Central and South America, Central Africa and South East Asia.
Continental climate areas are facing lightning phenomenon mainly during the hot and humid season (summer).
Lastly, the northern areas represent a very minor share of worldwide lightning activity: it accounts for a mere 0.2% in 2010 according to the World Wide Lightning Location Network (WWLLN) data.
Still, in an article recently published by the Geophysical Research Letter (March 2021), scientists mention a 800% increase from 2010 to 2020 !
The explanations seem to be directly related to global warming: temperature rise, ice and permafrost melting… that induces conditions favorable to convective phenomenon and thunderstorms.
Following this new paper conclusions, if the increasing risk of lightning is not taken into account, local populations and northern sea traffic might become exposed and vulnerable to the phenomenon.
Source : https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/2020GL091366
