Lightning Sensor

The AEM Lightning Sensor is a research-grade instrument designed to detect both cloud-to-ground and in-cloud lightning with very high accuracy. It powers the Earth Networks Total Lightning Network (ENTLN) and supports regional lightning detection worldwide.

Yes. The sensor is housed in a NEMA 4X / IP66–rated enclosure and is engineered to operate in extreme temperatures, high winds, heavy rain, ice, and high humidity.

The Lightning Sensor supports up to 97% total lightning detection efficiency, with detection performance dependent on network density and deployment configuration.

The sensor features an industry-leading broadband frequency range (1 kHz–12 MHz) and a patented antenna design, allowing it to capture more lightning information and support more complete lightning detection.

Organizations involved in emergency management, aviation, public safety, utilities, research, and critical infrastructure often host sensors to improve lightning detection and decision-making in their region.

ENTLN data can be visualized using the AEM Elements™ 360 multi-hazard decision support application or Sferic Maps.

You can set alerts and notifications around proximity thresholds for a specific location directly in Elements 360 or Sferic Maps. You can receive those alerts directly via the application, email, or text.

The data from an AEM lightning sensor is best viewed within our AEM Elements 360 or Sferic Maps® application. From there, your data can be exported in a variety of sharable formats.

Our lightning sensor is designed to be mast-mounted and weighs less than 6kg, including the digital signal processor (DSP) and 60m data cable. When installed correctly, it will operate in winds up to 216 km/h and withstand up to 2.5cm of ice.

Our lightning sensor’s measurement range is 20km – 400km with an accuracy of <100 meters. That means it can pinpoint a lightning strike nearly 250 miles away to an area with a radius less than two and a half football fields.

Our sensor’s mean time to failure is 10 years, offering a decade of reliable, continuous remote lightning monitoring.

The Earth Networks Total Lightning Network was the first lightning network to accurately measure and classify both in-cloud and cloud-to-ground lightning. In the past, most lightning detection networks only focused on cloud-to-ground strikes. That’s why we say it’s a “total” lightning network.

Cloud-to-ground lightning is just what it sounds like: a bolt of lightning shoots between a storm cloud and the earth. This is what most of us think about when we think of “lightning.” In-cloud lightning refers to the electrical activity that happens high above our heads within the storm but never makes it to ground. Typically, storms that produce cloud-to-ground strikes have even more activity occurring within the storm system. The ENTLN delivers the most accurate global lightning classification accuracy of >95%.

In-cloud lightning is an indicator of danger for cloud-to-ground strikes in areas where those strikes might not be occurring yet. That means that if you only monitor cloud-to-ground strikes, you’re taking a reactive approach to lightning safety rather than a proactive one.

Not necessarily—but it depends on your goals. While lightning sensors provide the highest level of precision and independence, AEM also offers access to one of the most comprehensive lightning detection networks in the world: the Earth Networks Total Lightning Network (ENTLN). ENTLN covers vast geographic areas and detects both in-cloud and cloud-to-ground strikes with industry-leading accuracy. If your organization prefers on-site sensing or operates in regions without network coverage, installing your own lightning sensor may be the right choice. We’re happy to help evaluate the best approach based on your location, operations, and risk profile.

When analyzing lightning, total lightning data is key—which includes both cloud-to-ground and in-cloud lightning. In-cloud activity often precedes more dangerous strikes, making it a critical predictor. Additional valuable metrics include lightning strike rate, location, polarity, peak current, and storm cell tracking data. These insights can help researchers, meteorologists, and public safety teams better understand storm development, anticipate escalation, and issue earlier warnings. AEM’s ENTLN and Elements 360 platform provide all of these metrics in real time for proactive weather risk management.