Urals Region Begins Tracking Lightning to Prevent Wildfires
A lightning detection system has been launched in the Middle Urals, designed to identify strikes in remote forest areas and help locate potential fire hotspots before they develop into full-scale wildfires.
Engineers at the Ural Airbase have deployed the system in test mode. Equipment has been installed in three towns – Ivdel, Tabori, and Nizhny Tagil – covering the northern part of the region, where thunderstorms are a leading cause of forest fires.
The system works by detecting electromagnetic emissions from lightning strikes and calculating the precise coordinates of each ground impact. It then analyzes weather data to determine whether rainfall occurred in the area. If no rain is recorded and conditions remain hot and dry, the system automatically flags the location, prompting a patrol aircraft to be dispatched.
