Estimating radiated energy of lightning strokes detected by the World Wide Lightning Location Network

The World Wide Lightning Location Network (WWLLN) provides real-time lightning locations globally by measuring the very low frequency (VLF) radiation emanating from lightning discharges. The location accuracy and efficiency of the WWLLN have been estimated for certain regions of the globe. The next upgrade to the WWLLN is to provide an estimate of the energy radiated by each WWLLN-detected lightning stroke. Each WWLLN receiving station measures the integrated VLF energy at the antenna. Using this integrated energy value at each station and by accounting for ionospheric attenuation on the stroke-to-receiver path, we calculate an estimated amount of energy radiated at the location of the lightning stroke. We then find the correlation between radiated energy and peak current by comparing lightning strokes detected by both WWLLN and by the Los Alamos Sferic Array. Estimates of stroke strength from lightning strokes on a global basis will be useful in explaining the global distribution of transient luminous events such as sprites and elves, as well as many other scientific questions.