Regional and Land/Water Differences Between FORTE Optical and Ground-based VLF Lightning Detection

The World Wide Lightning Location Network (WWLLN) [Dowden et al., 2002] provides real time lightning locations globally by measuring the very low frequency (VLF) radiation emanating from lightning discharges. The location accuracy and efficiency of WWLLN have been estimated for certain regions of the globe [Lay et al. 2004; Rodger et al. 2004]. The FORTE satellite has monitored lightning within its field-of-view using radiofrequency and optical sensors [Jacobson et al., 2000; Kirkland et al., 2001; Suszcynsky et al., 2000]. We will report on comparisons between WWLLN and FORTE observations, conducted to gain more insights on regional differences in detection efficiency of WWLLN as well as land/water differences in lightning detection by satellite as opposed to a VLF ground-based network. Initial results show regional differences in the amount of coincident lightning strokes compared to total detected WWLLN strokes. Dowden, R.L., J.B. Brundell, and C.J. Rodger, J. Atmos. Sol. Terr. Phys., 64, 817-830, 2002. Jacobson, A.R., K.L. Cummins, M. Carter, P. Klingner, D. Roussel-Dupre, and S.O. Knox, J. Geophys. Res., 105 (D12), 15,653, 2000. Kirkland, M.W., D.M. Suszcynsky, J.L.L. Guillen, and J.L. Green, J. Geophys. Res., 106 (D24), 33,499-33,509, 2001. Lay E.H., R.H. Holzworth, C.J. Rodger, J.N. Thomas, O. Pinto Jr., R.L. Dowden, Geophys. Res. Lett., 31, doi:10.1029/2003GL018882, 2004. Rodger, C. J., J.B. Brundell, R.L. Dowden, and N.R. Thomson, Annales Geophys. 22, 747-758, 2004. Suszcynsky, D.M., M.W. Kirkland, A.R. Jacobson, R.C. Franz, S.O. Knox, J.L.L. Guillen, and J.L. Green, J. Geophys. Res., 105 (D2), 2191-2201, 2000.