Earth Networks

What Earth Networks does

Earth Networks, founded in 1993 and headquartered in Germantown, Maryland, operates the world's largest proprietary hyperlocal weather observation network — 17,500+ weather stations collecting data every 10 seconds across six continents — alongside the Earth Networks Total Lightning Network (ENTLN), a 1,800+-sensor global system detecting both in-cloud and cloud-to-ground lightning in 100+ countries with 95% detection efficiency and sub-15-second data delivery. The company is a wholly-owned operating brand of Advanced Environmental Monitoring (AEM), a private roll-up that also owns Davis Instruments, Lambrecht Meteo, OneRain, FTS, High Sierra Electronics, Vieux & Associates, and WeatherWorks.

The product architecture is a platform-plus-modules model anchored on AEM Elements 360 (multi-hazard risk dashboard), Sferic Maps (80+-layer visualization), Sferic Siren (outdoor alerting), and the AI-driven ENcast forecast engine with Forward Error Correction. Data access is productized through the Sferic API, Sferic Data Stream, ENcast API, and Pulse API for developer and enterprise integration. Hardware revenue comes from professional weather stations (Apex, Ascend, Vantage Pro2), flood monitoring (Apex Flood Station), RAWS wildfire stations, and private lightning deployments; 24/7 meteorological consulting services round out the offering.

Earth Networks monetizes through hardware sales, tiered software subscriptions, usage-based API access, and professional services, selling primarily via direct enterprise sales with a secondary self-service developer/API channel. Customers span aviation (JetBlue, St. Pete-Clearwater International), federal and state government (Bureau of Indian Affairs, NTSB-recommended deployments), energy and utilities (CORE Electric Cooperative, Siemens Gamesa), education (School District of Palm Beach County), sports and recreation (Washington Nationals, Maryland Soccerplex, The Breakers Palm Beach), and mining (Galore Creek). ISO 9001:2015 and SOC 2 Type II certifications support enterprise and government procurement requirements.

Name

Earth Networks

Legal name

Earth Networks, Inc.

Website

https://earthnetworks.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Earth Networks operates the world's largest proprietary hyperlocal weather observation network and global total lightning detection network, selling hardware, AI-driven forecasting, alerting software, APIs, and meteorological services to enterprise and government customers across aviation, energy, education, and public safety.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Weather Intelligence and Environmental Monitoring Software

NAICS

Satellite Telecommunications (51741), Geophysical Surveying and Mapping Services (54136), Surveying and Mapping (except Geophysical) Services (541370), Radio Broadcasting Stations (51611)

SIC

Radio Broadcasting Stations (4832), Services-Computer Processing & Data Preparation (7374)

akta.pro primary industry

Routing, Optimization & Dispatch Engines (BPAMANAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Remote Sensing & Earth Observation Analytics (Satellite/UAV/LiDAR, Image Processing) (EUAHAKAD), Environmental Data Management Platforms (EHS/EMS, LIMS, ELN, Compliance Data Hubs) (EUAHAKAA)

Keywords

• Weather intelligence
• Lightning detection
• Weather data APIs
• Severe weather alerting
• Environmental monitoring

Headquarters

HQ city

Germantown

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Weather Monitoring Hardware Sales: Sale of weather stations, lightning sensors, and monitoring equipment to organizations for on-site installation
2. Software Subscriptions: Subscription-based access to Sferic Maps, AEM Elements 360 platform, ENcast forecasts, and other software tools with tiered pricing based on features and usage
3. Data and API Access: Usage-based or subscription access to Sferic API, Sferic Data Stream, and Pulse API for real-time weather data, forecasts, and historical data retrieval
4. Professional Services: Meteorological consulting services including 24/7 forecasting support, network design, field services, installation, maintenance and calibration

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Earth Networks operates proprietary weather observation and lightning detection networks (Earth Networks Total Lightning Network and 17,500+ hyperlocal weather stations) and delivers hyperlocal weather intelligence through software platforms (Sferic Maps, Sferic Connect, Sferic Siren, AEM Elements 360, ENcast), data APIs (Sferic API, Sferic Data Stream), weather sensor hardware, and 24/7 meteorological consulting services for businesses and government organizations worldwide.

Product overview

Earth Networks, operating under AEM (Advanced Environmental Monitoring), offers a platform-plus-modules architecture centered on weather intelligence and lightning detection. The core platform is AEM Elements 360, a comprehensive weather dashboard with real-time and forecast data and automated alerting, complemented by visualization tools including Sferic Maps and Sferic Siren for outdoor alerting. Data access is provided through the Sferic API product family (Sferic API, Sferic Data Stream, ENcast API) delivering historical data, real-time conditions, and AI-powered forecasts. The foundational infrastructure is the Earth Networks Total Lightning Network with 1,800+ sensors globally. Hardware offerings include weather stations (Vantage Pro2, Ascend, Apex, RAWS), flood monitoring systems (Apex Flood Station), and Total Lightning System deployments. Professional services include 24/7 Meteorological Services and specialized solutions for severe weather, flood, wildfire, and lightning risk management.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Sferic Maps: Severe weather visualization, decision support, and alerting tool with 80+ map layers including total lightning, radar, and severe weather tracking.
• Sferic Connect
• Sferic Siren
• ENcast
• Earth Networks Total Lightning Network (ENTLN)

Products and services

• Sferic Maps Real-time weather visualization and storm tracking platform with 80+ map layers including total lightning, current and forecasted radar, and severe weather conditions. Enables custom alerts via email, text, or mobile push notifications for enterprise decision-makers managing weather-dependent operations.
• Sferic Mobile Mobile application for receiving real-time weather alerts and tracking storms on the go, enabling field personnel and remote workers to receive severe weather notifications based on their location.
• Sferic Connect Customizable severe weather hub for iOS and Android mobile devices that coordinates operational response with weather-related warnings and alerts, featuring hourly and 7-day forecasts and visual storm tracking for distributed enterprise teams.
• Sferic Siren (Outdoor Alerting System) Complete outdoor lightning alert system with audible horn and visible strobe, featuring fully automated alarms and all-clears based on lightning strike proximity. Deployed at schools, parks, sports venues, golf courses, and other outdoor facilities to protect people from lightning hazards.
• Meteorological Services 24/7 on-demand professional meteorological support providing personalized daily operations-oriented forecasts, custom dashboards, and weather risk guidance for organizations with weather-sensitive operations.
• Sferic API RESTful API providing access to weather data including hourly forecasts for up to 6 days, real-time conditions, and current alerts (via Pulse API) for any latitude/longitude location. Designed for developers integrating weather intelligence into their own applications.
• Sferic Data Stream High-volume historical weather data and real-time data streaming API for continuous monitoring of weather conditions at any location worldwide, supporting machine learning applications and large-scale analytics use cases.
• Lightning Data Real-time lightning intelligence and export-ready lightning data reports informed by the Earth Networks Total Lightning Network with both in-cloud and cloud-to-ground strike detection for forensic analysis, claims processing, and risk modeling.
• Earth Networks Total Lightning Network (ENTLN) Global total lightning detection network with 1,800+ sensors in 100+ countries detecting both in-cloud and cloud-to-ground lightning with 95% detection efficiency and data delivery in under 15 seconds for any global lightning event.
• ENcast AI-driven weather forecast solution leveraging proprietary environmental networks and global, regional, and local modeling refined by machine learning for pinpoint 15-day hourly forecasts. Features high-resolution ensembles and Forward Error Correction improving forecast precision by up to 40% for the closest 12-hour period.
• AEM Elements 360 Comprehensive weather dashboard platform with real-time and forecast data, automated alerting engine with role-based notifications, and secure scalable infrastructure supporting interagency collaboration. Part of the Elements Resiliency Platform for multi-hazard environmental risk management.
• Weather Stations High-accuracy weather sensors with robust design for trusted local weather data, with scalable options ranging from local deployments to WMO-compliant networks. Seamlessly integrated with AEM software for alerts and operational decisions.
• Apex Flood Station Advanced flood monitoring and warning system designed for large networks, complex sites, and high-consequence deployments supporting dam safety, flood early warning, and emergency response applications.
• Remote Automated Weather Station (RAWS) Exceptionally accurate wildfire weather data stations trusted in harsh locations for monitoring conditions critical to government and land management operations including wildfire risk and forest management.
• Total Lightning System Custom private lightning detection network deployment solution to improve accuracy, reliability, and security of weather information for specific locations requiring dedicated lightning detection infrastructure.
• Vantage Pro2 Weather Station Weather station that connects easily to monitoring systems, providing critical information for go/no-go decisions in various operational contexts across industries including education, sports, and outdoor work environments.
• Ascend Weather Station Weather station built for industries that depend on weather data, combining rugged sensors and flexible design for safer, more efficient operations in demanding industrial environments including renewable energy and mining.
• Apex Automated Weather Station WMO-compliant automated weather station for professional-grade meteorological observations supporting government, research, and large-scale industrial deployments requiring reference-grade data quality.
• ENcast API API for accessing AI-powered forecast data including sensor forecasts, latitude-longitude forecasts, and city forecasts for 200,000+ cities worldwide, enabling developers to integrate ENcast forecasts into their own applications.

Quantifiable outcome

• 50% more lead time compared to freely available weather alerts
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments10 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability3 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• National Weather Service (NWS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational Mesonet Program partner, collaborating to advance weather monitoring and forecasting capabilities for public safety
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partnership to advance scientific knowledge of weather trends and phenomena
• NASAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on scientific research to advance understanding of weather trends and phenomena
• Bureau of Indian AffairscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDam safety program supporting Tribal Nations with early warning systems at 140+ dams across the country
• National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNTSB recommends use of Earth Networks Total Lightning Network for FAA safety improvements in aviation

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• The Weather Company (IBM): IBM's The Weather Company offers enterprise weather data, forecasts, and APIs used by airlines, retailers, media, and logistics companies. It is a much larger incumbent that bundles weather with broader IBM data and AI capabilities, competing with Earth Networks for enterprise data contracts at the high end of the market.
• AccuWeather: AccuWeather is a long-established weather media and data provider serving consumers, broadcasters, and enterprise customers with forecasts and severe weather alerts. It competes with Earth Networks in enterprise weather data and severe weather alerting, with stronger consumer brand equity but weaker proprietary sensor footprint.

Direct peers

• Vaisala: Vaisala is a global leader in weather and environmental instrumentation, including lightning detection (its GLD360 network competes directly with ENTLN), weather stations, and road weather systems. It is a direct competitor in both the lightning detection and weather station hardware markets.
• DTN: DTN provides weather, climate, and agricultural intelligence to enterprises across energy, agriculture, aviation, and transportation. It is the most direct head-to-head competitor to Earth Networks, with overlapping enterprise sales motion, subscription and API data products, and similar safety-critical use cases.
• Campbell Scientific: Campbell Scientific manufactures rugged weather stations, data loggers, and environmental sensors used in research, agriculture, and government monitoring. It is a direct competitor on the hardware side, particularly for professional-grade weather stations and environmental monitoring networks.
• Baron Weather: Baron Weather provides weather data, radar, and decision-support tools to broadcasters, aviation, government, and public safety clients. It overlaps directly with Earth Networks in severe weather visualization, alerting, and government/aviation vertical sales.

Emerging players

• Climavision: Climavision combines proprietary radar gap-filling, satellite, and AI-based nowcasting to provide high-resolution weather data to enterprise and government customers. It is an emerging competitor pursuing a similar data-network-plus-AI playbook, focused on aviation, energy, and public safety.
• Tomorrow.io: Tomorrow.io (formerly Climacell) offers a weather intelligence platform and API targeting aviation, logistics, construction, and on-site operations, with proprietary sensing and ML-based nowcasting. It is an emerging enterprise weather API competitor with overlapping developer-first GTM and similar use cases.
• Meteomatics: Meteomatics is a Swiss-based weather data and API provider serving aviation, energy, insurance, and government with high-resolution forecasts. It is an emerging enterprise weather API peer with overlapping data-as-a-service business model and similar ML-based forecasting approach.

Others

• NOAA / National Weather Service: NOAA's National Weather Service provides free public weather data, forecasts, and severe weather alerts in the U.S. and is also a partner to Earth Networks via the National Mesonet Program. It is an ecosystem participant and partial substitute that caps pricing power in price-sensitive customer segments.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/EarthNetworks
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCIEVCZ05K4xayt5yXed48AA
• Facebookfacebook.com/EarthNetworks
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/earth-networks
• Instagraminstagram.com/aem.eco

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds4 records

Investors3 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments1 record

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Earth Networks