An Operational VHF Broadband Digital Interferometer for Lightning Monitoring

The authors have been developing a new type of lightning location and monitoring system based on a technique of “VHF broadband digital interferometry". This paper summarizes this VHF broadband digital interferometer (DITF), together with new observations. As a first step of the development, the experimental system is installed and lightning observations are conducted. In these observations, imaging of lightning progression is obtainable in two- and/or three-dimensions. The effectiveness of our results has been confirmed by the comparisons with the results of previous studies and other observations. The evaluation of the system is discussed to improve its accuracy, and the advanced system is completed. At present, the advanced system has been completed and the first result is obtained. It is concluded that the function of the system works well, and the VHF broadband DITF for lightning monitoring is accomplished with high accuracy from the aspects of time and space resolutions.