Lightning detection from satellites
Abstract
The Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) lightning detectors extended the observations to dusk and dawn periods in addition to midnight recordings. These satellites are in sun-synchronous circular orbits at an altitude of 830 km and are inclined 98.7 deg to the equator on the northbound pass. The ratio of global lightning flash frequency during northern summer is 1.4 for the dusk and satellite data; the recent DMSP analyses involve the detailed mapping of 25,000 lightning flashes for 365 consecutive days near local midnight.
- Publication:
-
AIAA, Aerospace Sciences Meeting
- Pub Date:
- January 1981
- Bibcode:
- 1981aiaa.meetR....O
- Keywords:
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- Lightning;
- Meteorological Satellites;
- Satellite Observation;
- Diurnal Variations;
- Solar Orbits;
- Synchronous Satellites;
- Spacecraft Instrumentation