SMOS and lightning

ESA’s SMOS mission has been measuring the moisture in Earth’s soil surface since it was launched in 2009. Weather forecasters are now also using these measurements to assess the risk of extreme events such as floods and droughts. In dry conditions, lightning can trigger wildfires. Combining SMOS soil moisture measurements with lightning density readings along with other environmental data such as air temperature allows scientists to produce ignition probability maps as part of the EU’s Copernicus Emergency Management Service.