Abstract
In this study, we developed an algorithm to produce global flash distribution by using the data from the LIS (Lightning Imaging Sensor) aboard the TRMM satellite and OTD (Optical Transient Detector). A cross-sensor comparison between LIS and OTD reveals that the relative DE (Detection Efficiency) of the OTD to the LIS is estimated at 66% on average, which is consistent with the sensitivity of the both instruments. A statistical examination of LIS/OTD lightning data reveals that an average of 47.9 flashes ±7.7 occurs around the globe per second, which is well below the traditional estimate of 100 flashes/second.
