How many times a day does lightning hit Earth?

With an average of 2,000 active thunderstorms occurring at any given time, lightning strikes occur an average of 100 times a second. With an estimated 20 percent of strikes being cloud-to-ground, lightning hits the Earth approximately 432,000 times every day.

According to NASA, two satellite-based detectors are responsible for recording lightning strikes worldwide. The satellite imaging makes use of high-speed cameras to measure minute lighting differences that may not even be visible to the naked eye. This new technology for space-based research and observation allows scientists to make accurate measurements regarding the frequency of lightning strikes all over the world.