The Science Behind Lightning Detection: 5Qs with Kristen Corbosiero

By Mike Nolan

ALBANY, N.Y. (July 6, 2026)— Lightning doesn't just light up the sky, it releases electromagnetic waves that can be detected hundreds of miles away.

Using a network of specialized sensors, scientists can monitor those signals and pinpoint the location of a lightning strike within seconds. That information helps keep people safe, supporting forecasts, aviation, emergency management and the severe weather alerts that show up on your phone.

What most people don't realize is that this technology has roots at the University at Albany. 

Researchers in the Department of Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences developed and deployed the original lightning detection system that evolved into today's National Lightning Detection Network, which tracks lightning across the United States in real time.

We caught up with Kristen Corbosiero, chair and professor in the Department of Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences to learn more about the science behind lightning detection and the National Lightning Detection Network.

What actually happens when lightning flashes?

A lightning flash is a very hot and fast electrical discharge, like a spark when it's dry and you walk across a carpet. It happens when different electrical charges build up between the cloud and ground, or between clouds, and then suddenly equalize. The lightning flash is the charge moving from one area to another, while the thunder is the rapid expansion and contraction of the air due to the extremely hot flash.

How can scientists pinpoint where a lightning strike occurs?

The sensors that make up the National Lightning Detection Network detect the electromagnetic radiation (radio waves) caused by the very hot lightning flash moving through the air. Using the precise time the waves arrive at three or more sensors, the network can figure out where the flash was located, usually within a few hundred feet or less.

Can you share more about the history of the National Lightning Detection Network?

The National Lightning Detection Network was developed at UAlbany in the 1980s. UAlbany researchers and collaborators developed the technology to detect flashes and used cameras mounted on the campus residential towers to help verify that the detectors were correctly locating the flashes. The network grew from a few local sensors to more than 100 across the country today.

Do UAlbany researchers still support the network today?

The National Lightning Detection Network is owned by a private company (Vaisala) today, but UAlbany still has free access to the data. We conduct research on tropical cyclones and severe thunderstorms using the data, as well as that from other regional and global lightning networks, such as the satellite-based Geostationary Lightning Mapper and ground-based World Wide Lightning Location Network.

What's your best piece of advice for someone caught outside during a thunderstorm?

If caught outside when a thunderstorm hits, try to seek shelter as soon as you hear thunder; don't wait until you see lightning. If no shelter is available, move to a flat or low-lying area, but not a small ditch that could flood with heavy rain, and crouch down low, but not lying on the ground. Do not move to a hill or seek shelter under a tree. Also, avoid water and tall metal objects.