Analysis of Ten-Year Variations of Lightning Activity in Italy and Correlation with Land and Sea Surface Temperatures

This study investigates the evolution of lightning activity in Italy by comparing two biennia: 2010–2011 and 2020–2021. Lightning data were obtained from a lightning location system (the SIRF network) and processed to focus exclusively on cloud-to-ground (CG) strokes. The analysis covers both land and surrounding sea areas, with data filtered and validated according to the study objectives. A detailed statistical comparison of CG activity between the two periods is presented, along with an assessment of spatial distributions across the Italian territory. Furthermore, correlations between CG stroke occurrence and both sea surface temperature and land surface temperature are examined. The findings highlight temporal and spatial variations in lightning patterns over the decade and provide insights into their possible relationship with environmental conditions.