IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/nathaz/v120y2024i4d10.1007_s11069-023-06347-6.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Spatiotemporal analysis of lightning flash clusters and fatalities between 2000 and 2020 over West Bengal, India

Author

Listed:
  • Manoranjan Mishra

    (Fakir Mohan University)

  • Rajkumar Guria

    (Fakir Mohan University)

  • Tamoghna Acharyya

    (Berhampur University)

  • Umasankar Das

    (Meteorological Centre Bhubaneswar)

  • Celso Augusto Guimarães Santos

    (Federal University of Paraíba)

  • Richarde Marques Silva

    (Federal University of Paraíba)

  • FX Anjar Tri Laksono

    (University of Pecs
    Jenderal Soedirman University)

  • Ranjana Kumari

    (Fakir Mohan University)

Abstract

Lightning strikes present a significant risk in India, particularly in densely populated and agrarian states like West Bengal. However, there has been limited research on the patterns and trend of these hazards. The present study investigated the spatiotemporal changes in lightning flashes and their fatalities in West Bengal using high-resolution Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission Lightning Imaging Sensor (TRMM LIS) data and statistical data for the period between 2000 and 2020. The Mann–Kendall and Sen tests and cluster analysis approach were employed to estimate district- and physiographic division-wise variations in lightning occurrence and trends. Additionally, lightning fatality data for the study area spanning from 2000 to 2020 were analyzed using Mann–Kendall and Sen tests, supplemented by cluster analysis. The geospatial results indicate that districts in the south have a lower frequency of lightning flashes, while districts in the north have a higher frequency. Furthermore, the number of flashes in the region increased from 2000 to 2012 and has since displayed a downward trend since 2018. The study also revealed a steady rise in the average number of flashes from March to July. Two prominent peaks were observed: one in May and another in September. Additionally, afternoon and evening peaks in lightning activity were noted. Significant decreasing trends in lightning activity were observed in the Jalpaiguri and Murshidabad districts between 2000 and 2020. The seasonal lightning flash rate density pattern showed that the peak values are recorded during the pre-monsoon months (March–May). The temporal analysis of lightning deaths showed an upward trend from 2000 to 2020. The study concludes that lightning-induced fatalities are a significant concern in West Bengal and suggests mitigative actions. Graphical abstract

Suggested Citation

  • Manoranjan Mishra & Rajkumar Guria & Tamoghna Acharyya & Umasankar Das & Celso Augusto Guimarães Santos & Richarde Marques Silva & FX Anjar Tri Laksono & Ranjana Kumari, 2024. "Spatiotemporal analysis of lightning flash clusters and fatalities between 2000 and 2020 over West Bengal, India," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 120(4), pages 3533-3564, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:nathaz:v:120:y:2024:i:4:d:10.1007_s11069-023-06347-6
    DOI: 10.1007/s11069-023-06347-6
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s11069-023-06347-6
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s11069-023-06347-6?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Alok Taori & Arun Suryavanshi & Rajashree V. Bothale, 2023. "Cloud-to-ground lightning occurrences over India: seasonal and diurnal characteristics deduced with ground-based lightning detection sensor network (LDSN)," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 116(3), pages 4037-4049, April.
    2. Alok Taori & Arun Suryavanshi & Sunil Pawar & M. V. R. Seshasai, 2022. "Establishment of lightning detection sensors network in India: generation of essential climate variable and characterization of cloud-to-ground lightning occurrences," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 111(1), pages 19-32, March.
    3. Norberto Navarrete-Aldana & Mary Cooper & Ronald Holle, 2014. "Lightning fatalities in Colombia from 2000 to 2009," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 74(3), pages 1349-1362, December.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Brian Mills, 2020. "An updated assessment of lightning-related fatality and injury risk in Canada: 2002–2017," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 102(3), pages 997-1009, July.
    2. T. M. Giannaros & K. Lagouvardos & V. Kotroni, 2017. "Performance evaluation of an operational lightning forecasting system in Europe," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 85(1), pages 1-18, January.
    3. Alok Taori & Arun Suryavanshi & Rajashree V. Bothale, 2023. "Cloud-to-ground lightning occurrences over India: seasonal and diurnal characteristics deduced with ground-based lightning detection sensor network (LDSN)," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 116(3), pages 4037-4049, April.
    4. Gavin Jan Suplico & Amiel John Vishnu Bacus & Sitti Jannah Ismael & Kyla May Altubar & Eunice Leanne Parro & Paula Margarita Navarro & Kurt Bryant B. Bacharo, 2024. "Lightning fatalities in the Philippines, 2006–2021," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 120(8), pages 7155-7171, June.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:spr:nathaz:v:120:y:2024:i:4:d:10.1007_s11069-023-06347-6. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.