HR: 08:00h
AN: AE41A-01    [Abstracts]
TI: Statistics of the optical lightning radiation source derived from satellite observations
AU: * Finke, U
EM: ullrich.finke@fh-hannover.de
AF: University of Applied Sciences and Arts, Ricklinger Stadtweg 120, Hannover, 30459, Germany
AB: The next generation of geostationary satellites will carry an optical sensor for the operational detection of lightning on the full visible disk. For the development of the detection instrument a characterisation of the expected signal from natural lightning is necessary. A huge data set of optical lightning observation was gathered by the LIS and OTD lightning detection sensors both operating on board of low orbit satellites. These data are analysed in order to derive the statistics of lightning position, temporal characteristics and optical radiance. The statistics from the smallest to the largest possible scales give a good characterisation of lightning distribution on the storm scale for the different locations on Earth. The results of the statistics are extended from the small field of view of the LIS and OTD sensors to full disk as seen from a geostationary position. This gives an empirical probability distribution function of lightning radiance in space and time with the realistic correlation characteristics on the storm scales. This distribution function can be used in a random lightning signal generator providing an input for the simulation of the lightning source in instrument studies. The scattering of the lightning signal in the clouds is simulated by a Monte-Carlo method for various lightning source positions and channel orientations. The statistics of the simulation results are compared against the satellite observations.
DE: 3324 Lightning
SC: Atmospheric and Space Electricity [AE]
MN: 2007 Fall Meeting