Lightning strike locations and characteristics in Nyungwe National Park, Rwanda, surveyed in June 2022 and October 2023
Cite this dataset as:
Sullivan, M.; Ngute, A.; Batumike, R.; Zoletto, B.; Petridis, N.; Kaplin, B.; Cuni-Sanchez, A.; Gora, E. (2024). Lightning strike locations and characteristics in Nyungwe National Park, Rwanda, surveyed in June 2022 and October 2023. NERC EDS Environmental Information Data Centre. https://doi.org/10.5285/d47e78bc-2227-4bc7-90ae-9ec871c52bec
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By accessing or using this dataset, you agree to the terms of the relevant licence agreement(s). You will ensure that this dataset is cited in any publication that describes research in which the data have been used.
This dataset is available under the terms of the Open Government Licence 
https://doi.org/10.5285/d47e78bc-2227-4bc7-90ae-9ec871c52bec
The dataset details the locations and attributes of canopy disturbances in Nyungwe National Park, Rwanda, that were suspected to have been caused by lightning strikes. Disturbances were located by surveying 23km of trails and assessing whether disturbances (clusters of dead or damaged trees) had damage signatures consistent with lighting. Only disturbances that were thought to potentially have been caused by lightning were recorded. As well as providing a qualitative assessment of the confidence that the damage was caused by lightning, the dataset contains the number of dead and damaged trees in different size classes, as well as the taxonomic identity and degree of crown damage experienced by canopy trees within the putative strike. Photographs of a subset of strikes are also provided.
Data were collected as part of the project Lightning in African tropical forests: from tree mortality to carbon dynamics (NE/W003872/1).
Data were collected as part of the project Lightning in African tropical forests: from tree mortality to carbon dynamics (NE/W003872/1).
Publication date: 2024-12-17
View numbers valid from 17 December 2024 Download numbers valid from 17 December 2024 (information prior to this was not collected)
Format
Comma-separated values (CSV)
Spatial information
Study area
Spatial representation type
Tabular (text)
Spatial reference system
WGS 84
Temporal information
Temporal extent
2022-06-01 to 2023-10-31
Provenance & quality
A total of 23.3km of trails were surveyed in Nyungwe National Park in June 2022, covering the majority of trails accessible from the Uwinka station. Canopy disturbances (i.e. clusters of dead or damaged trees) encountered along these trails were inspected to assess for flashover damage (visually apparent as the defoliation of the two nearest branches of neighbouring trees in a directionally biased pattern). If a tree exhibited potential flashover damage to two or more neighbors, it was selected for more detailed surveys to assess whether patterns of damage were consistent with lightning.
The presumptive directly struck tree was identified as the canopy tree at the center of observed flashover damage. Tree-level surveys of lightning damage were conducted for this tree, along with any other tree with a diameter at breast height > 50 cm within the lightning strike area.
A subset of trails was resurveyed in October 2023, revisiting existing strike locations on these trails and surveying new disturbances.
The presumptive directly struck tree was identified as the canopy tree at the center of observed flashover damage. Tree-level surveys of lightning damage were conducted for this tree, along with any other tree with a diameter at breast height > 50 cm within the lightning strike area.
A subset of trails was resurveyed in October 2023, revisiting existing strike locations on these trails and surveying new disturbances.
Licensing and constraints
This dataset is available under the terms of the Open Government Licence
Cite this dataset as:
Sullivan, M.; Ngute, A.; Batumike, R.; Zoletto, B.; Petridis, N.; Kaplin, B.; Cuni-Sanchez, A.; Gora, E. (2024). Lightning strike locations and characteristics in Nyungwe National Park, Rwanda, surveyed in June 2022 and October 2023. NERC EDS Environmental Information Data Centre. https://doi.org/10.5285/d47e78bc-2227-4bc7-90ae-9ec871c52bec
Correspondence/contact details
Authors
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5955-0483
Ngute, A.
University of the Sunshine Coast
Batumike, R.
Manchester Metropolitan University
Zoletto, B.
Wageningen University & Research
Petridis, N.
Wageningen University & Research
Kaplin, B.
University of Rwanda
Cuni-Sanchez, A.
Norwegian University of Life Sciences
Gora, E.
Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies
Other contacts
Rights holder
Manchester Metropolitan University
Custodian
NERC EDS Environmental Information Data Centre
info@eidc.ac.uk
Publisher
NERC EDS Environmental Information Data Centre
info@eidc.ac.uk
Additional metadata
Keywords
Funding
Natural Environment Research Council Award: NE/W003872/1
Last updated
21 March 2025 10:50