This material is based upon work supported by NASA through contract NNL16AA05C and cooperative agreement NNX14AB60A. Any mention of a commercial product, service or activity in this material does not constitute NASA endorsement. Any opinions, findings and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and partner organizations.

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China

India

Bhutan

Nepal

Bangladesh

Bay of

Bengal

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India

China

Results

Abstract Objectives

Methodology

Study Area

Earth Observations

Bhupesh Adhikary, International Centre for Integrated Mountain DevelopmentSubash Rimal, Department of Hydrology and Meteorology, NepalAbdul Mannan, Bangladesh Meteorological DepartmentLee Ellenburg, NASA SERVIR - Science Coordination OfficeLeigh Sinclair, NASA Global Hydrology Resource Center Distributed Active Archive CenterDr. Jeffrey Luvall, NASA Marshall Space Flight CenterDr. Robert Griffin, University of Alabama HuntsvilleDr. Patrick Gatlin, NASA SERVIR – Applied Science TeamMaggi Klug, University of Alabama HuntsvilleAmanda Markert, NASA SERVIR – Mekong

Acknowledgements

Project Partners

Conclusions

Intense thunderstorms throughout the Hindu-Kush Himalayan (HKH) region have resulted inan upsurge of lightning-related deaths due to an increase in population. Partnering with theNASA Global Hydrology Resource Center Distributed Active Archive Center, NASASERVIR Science Coordination Office, Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD), NepalDepartment of Hydrology and Meteorology (DHM), and the International Centre forIntegrated Mountain Development, this study investigated the lightning risks in the HKHregion and the correlation between precipitation and lightning. The team plotted lightningflash point data collected by the Lightning Imaging Sensor (LIS) aboard the Tropical RainfallMeasuring Mission (TRMM) and International Space Station (ISS) to determine the locationswhere the highest concentrations of lightning strikes occurred from January 2000 toDecember 2017. Additionally, the team used the TRMM Microwave Imager (TMI), TRMMPrecipitation Radar (PR) and Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) mission IntegratedMulti-Satellite Retrievals (IMERG) data to determine areas with the highest precipitation totalsover Bangladesh and Nepal. A Lightning Risk Map, created to highlight lightning-prone areasand regions with vulnerable populations, showed that populations in Bangladesh werecomparatively more vulnerable to lightning than those in Nepal. A Precipitation and LightningCorrelation was determined, indicating if areas experiencing heavier precipitationcorresponded with areas experiencing higher lightning totals. These end products will assistthe BMD and the DHM to increase hazard awareness and issue earlier warning times to reducelightning casualties.

Aid project partners in emergency management by identifying areas that are historically prone toexperiencing high lightning counts

Identify areas where high lightning activity will impact the most vulnerable communities of Nepal andBangladesh

Provide the Bangladesh Meteorological Department and the Nepal Department of Hydrology andMeteorology with a resource to use precipitation patterns as a proxy for lightning strikes in the Hindu-Kush Himalayan Region

Bangladesh Meteorological Department Ministry of Population and Environment, Department of Hydrology and Meteorology (Nepal) International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) NASA SERVIR Science Coordination Office NASA Global Hydrology Resource Center Distributed Active Archive Center

Team Members

Alabama – Marshall | Summer 2018Hindu-Kush Himalayan Disasters

Integrating NASA Earth Observations to Monitor Thunderstorms and Assess Lightning Exposure in the Hindu-Kush Himalayan Region

Sisam Shrestha

Global Precipitation Measurement

IMERG

International Space Station

Lightning Imaging Sensor (LIS)

Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission

LIS, TMI, PR

Shuttle Radar

Topography Mission

Christine Evans

Project Lead

Essence Raphael

Lightning Exposure Map

TRMM LIS

ISS LIS

Clipping

Re-Projection

Optimized Hotspot Analysis

Lightning Risk Map

ISS LISGPM IMERG

SRTMUnited Nations International Strategy for Disaster

Reduction population and socioeconomic data

ClippingRe-Projection

ReclassificationKernel Density

Empirical Bayesian Kinging Interpolation

Fuzzy Logic Membership

Fuzzy Overlay

Precipitation & Lightning

Correlation

TRMM TMI/PR

TRMM LIS

Format Data

Maximum Entropy Statistical

Analysis

Dat

aP

roce

ssin

gA

nal

ysis

Lightning DensityStrikes/sq.km.

0 - 4.9

5 - 9.9

10 - 14.9

15 - 19.9

20 - 44

Lightning Exposure 2001 - 2017

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Risk Analysis

High Risk

Low Risk

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Lightning Risk 2001 - 2017

Month R-Value

January 0.23999

February 0.31125

March 0.37263

April 0.34520

May 0.35507

June 0.28813

Month R-Value

July 0.15801

August 0.15409

September 0.22095

October 0.17965

November 0.11361

December 0.15545

Precipitation and Lightning Correlation 2001 - 2017

Lightning is most common in the western region of Nepal and in the Sylhet district of Bangladesh. Regions in Bangladesh were comparatively more vulnerable to lightning than those in Nepal due to high

population density and insubstantial housing conditions. Correlation between precipitation rates and lightning strikes were low when calculated by averaging

monthly values across the study period.