HR: 1340h
AN: AE33A-0178    [Abstracts]
TI: Performance Validation of the 2002-2003 Upgrade of the U.S. National Lightning Detection Network
AU: * Biagi, C J
AF: Institute of Atmospheric Physics, The University of Arizona P.O. Box 210081, Rm 542 1118 E. 4th St., Tucson, AZ 85721 United States
AU: Jerauld, J
EM: jjerauld@grove.ufl.edu
AF: Dept. of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Florida 216 Larsen Hall PO Box 116200 , Gainesville, FL 32611 United States
AU: Cramer, J A
EM: John.Cramer@vaisala.com
AF: Vaisala, 2705 E. Median Rd., Tucson, AZ 85706 United States
AU: Cummins, K L
EM: Ken.Cummins@vaisala.com
AF: Vaisala, 2705 E. Median Rd., Tucson, AZ 85706 United States
AU: Krider, E P
EM: krider@atmo.arizona.edu
AF: Institute of Atmospheric Physics, The University of Arizona P.O. Box 210081, Rm 542 1118 E. 4th St., Tucson, AZ 85721 United States
AU: Kehoe, K E
EM: KenKehoe@yahoo.com
AF: Institute of Atmospheric Physics, The University of Arizona P.O. Box 210081, Rm 542 1118 E. 4th St., Tucson, AZ 85721 United States
AU: Rakov, V A
EM: Rakov@ece.ufl.edu
AF: Dept. of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Florida 216 Larsen Hall PO Box 116200 , Gainesville, FL 32611 United States
AU: Uman, M A
EM: Uman@ece.ufl.edu
AF: Dept. of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Florida 216 Larsen Hall PO Box 116200 , Gainesville, FL 32611 United States
AB: Beginning in the spring of 2002, the U.S. National Lightning Detection Network (NLDNT) has been undergoing a system-wide upgrade. In conjunction with this upgrade, independent field evaluations have been carried out in Southern Arizona and in Oklahoma/Texas in 2003 and 2004, and at the International Center for Lightning Research and Testing (ICLRT) at Camp Blanding, Florida, in 2001-2003. Data from these studies have been used to quantify the performance of the NLDN and to evaluate the long-standing problem of the NLDN misclassifying cloud discharges as small positive cloud-to-ground strokes. The overall flash DE in Southern Arizona after the upgrade is 95%, based on 2290 video-measured return strokes, and the flash DE in Oklahoma and Texas is now about 93%, based on 734 video-measured strokes. Video observations of over 500 NLDN events that were classified as small positive strokes indicate that nearly all positive reports with an estimated peak current below 10 kA are cloud discharges, and most positive reports with estimated peak currents above 20 kA are CG strokes. The positive events between 10-20 kA (about 10% of the positive discharges and about 1% of all discharges) are a mix of cloud discharges and CG strokes. There was no indication of significant misclassification of small negative discharges. The ICLRT studies suggest that the flash DE (based solely on subsequent strokes) near Gainesville, Florida, is 84%, a value that is consistent with NLDN flash DE in that area of 90% for natural lightning. The observed stroke DE at the ICLRT in 2003 was 69%, and the median location error was 450 meters. The median absolute peak current estimation error was about 20%.
DE: 9350 North America
DE: 9805 Instruments useful in three or more fields
DE: 3324 Lightning
DE: 3394 Instruments and techniques
DE: 3304 Atmospheric electricity
SC: Atmospheric and Space Electricity [AE]
MN: 2004 AGU Fall Meeting