A modern storm monitoring system is being created by meteorologists at Jagiellonian University in Krakow which will give an accurate prediction of oncoming storms.

The system  - much needed in Poland after a summer of storms and flooding - will comprise a network of small underground labs linked up to ground antennas.

It will process information about storms with lightings more precisely than systems based on satellites.

Lukasz Bogdan points out that satellites which fly over a given area about once a week do not register all that is happening there.

“We don’t lose information about storms while satellites do. Our system will be much cheaper and more precise than a global system of satellites monitoring atmospheric discharges of electricity,” he told Polish Radio.

The Jagiellonian University team will create a worldwide map of atmospheric discharges and rainfalls. The first monitoring station is already working in the Bieszczady Mountains in south-eastern Poland.

Two more are being built in Brazil and Australia.  (kk/pg)