In this animation, lightning flashes -- recorded during the NASA Lightning Imaging Sensor's pass over storms moving through Oklahoma in October 1998 -- are overlaid on high-resolution infrared cloud-top data from the orbiting Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite. High flash rates visible in the heaviest storm areas may indicate the potential for tornado formation. With an optical sensor locked into geostationary orbit over the Earth, such useful information would be available continuously to meteorologists and other professional stormwatchers.

For more information:

· TRMM Fact Sheet

· TRMM Web Site

· Global Hydrology and Climate Center Lightning Research Web Site

Animation by Robert Simmon, courtesy of the Global Hydrology and Climate Center