The world wide lightning location network (WWLLN): Update of status and applications

Powerful lightning flashes with large return stroke peak currents induce energetic and electrical coupling between the troposphere, the upper atmosphere and near-Earth space via the quasi-electrostatic and/or the radiated electromagnetic pulse (EMP) which leaks into space as whistler waves. Global lightning observations provide context on the activity levels of thunderstorm systems, assisting studies into whistler activity, Transient Luminous Events, Terrestrial Gamma-ray Flashes, meteorology and atmospheric electricity in general. One of the few scientific experiments which can currently provide such observations is the multi-station World Wide Lightning Location Network (WWLLN).