Global lightning detection network GLD360
Pole-to-pole coverage with unmatched global accuracy, powered by Xweather.
Long-range lightning detection from pole to pole
The global lightning detection network GLD360 is a long-range network owned and operated by Vaisala Xweather. Operating continuously since 2009, it is the world's only truly global network, detecting lightning anywhere on Earth, even in regions outside the range of radars and satellites.
Vaisala's patented combination of time-of-arrival and magnetic direction-finding technology delivers greater accuracy with fewer sensors and avoids the sharp decline in detection efficiency with distance that other networks exhibit.
GLD360 detects and reports the location, polarity, peak current, and other characteristics of both cloud-to-cloud pulses and cloud-to-ground strokes.
Long-range network
GLD360's long-range sensors detect lightning from up to 10,000 kilometers away, providing true global coverage over land and sea.
1 km location accuracy
GLD360 detects and locates lightning events with a median accuracy of 1 kilometer anywhere on Earth.
15 seconds to alert
GLD360 detects and reports lightning in just 15 seconds. For every event more than 5 km (3 miles) away, you will get the alert before you hear the thunder.
99.99% network uptime
Smart network architecture delivers 99.99% uptime, uninterrupted data, and operational resilience.
80% classification accuracy
GLD360 identifies in-cloud pulses and cloud-to-ground lightning strokes with 80% classification accuracy.
80% CG detection efficiency
GLD360 accurately detects cloud-to-ground (CG) strokes, enabling operators to prioritize post-storm inspections.
90% stroke polarity accuracy
Accurate polarity data identifies positive strikes, which typically carry the highest risk of damage and fire.
2+ billion events
Xweather detects 99.9% of thunderstorms worldwide, recording 5–10 times more lightning events annually than any other network or technology.
GLD360 is part of the Xweather Lightning Network
Powered exclusively by Vaisala sensors, the Xweather Lightning Network combines the GLD360 global network, the National Lightning Detection Network (NLDN), and private member networks into a single source of standardized global lightning intelligence. Local precision networks improve the regional accuracy of the GLD360 and, in turn, gain enhanced performance and range.
The result is unmatched detection capability: 99.9% of thunderstorms captured worldwide and over 2 billion lightning events recorded every year. That's 5–10 times more lightning than any other network or technology. NASA, the U.S. Armed Forces, the National Weather Service, and the Federal Aviation Administration rely on Xweather lightning data. So do 40% of Fortune 100 companies.
How to access lightning data from GLD360
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