Three-dimensional mapping of lightning currents using LINET VLF magnetic sensors
Abstract
During the summer of 2010, we operated a 7-sensor LINET (LIghtning NETwork) system of crossed loop magnetic detectors with a baseline of 50 km to detect current surges within lightning flashes. The network was centered on the NASA/Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in east central Florida, USA. In this presentation we compare the data from LINET, which operates in the VLF frequency range (~5 - 200 kHz), to data from the KSC LDAR2 lightning mapping system, which operates in the VHF frequency band (60 - 66 MHz). We find that the LINET locations of in-cloud lightning current surges are in good agreement with the LDAR2 source-point channels even though the occurrence of the VLF current surges are not always coincident with the VHF sources. In addition we find that (1) VLF emission heights of intracloud current surges (IC strokes) located by LINET are accurate enough to indicate discharge channel positions, (2) VLF IC strokes often occur at the beginning of a discharge, and (3) VLF IC strokes may occur repeatedly along a discharge channel. Overall, the LINET data provide a highly useful way of locating substantial current surges within lightning flashes.
- Publication:
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AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2010
- Bibcode:
- 2010AGUFMAE31B..02B
- Keywords:
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- 3324 ATMOSPHERIC PROCESSES / Lightning