Development of observation system for typhoon and thunderstorms with micro-satellites and ground-based lightning network

We have been developing an observation system for typhoon and thunderstorms with micro-satellites and ground-based lightning network under the projects of a SATREPS "ULAT" and e-ASIA in order to realize precise real-time monitoring and issuing alert for extreme weather under international cooperation among Japan, Philippines, Indonesia and other SE-Asian countries supported by JST, JICA, PHL-Microsat and other fundings.

It is well known that intensification of lightning activity is precursor of typhoon growth as well as an indicator of individual thunderstorm activity. In these projects, we apply two new technologies, that is, the lightning activity estimated by the ground-based lightning networks with 12 sites for VLF radio wave measurement in nation-wide of Philippines and with 50 sites for electrostatic field measurement in Metro Manila together with infrasound sensor and automated weather station, and the 3 dimensional capturing of thunderstorms by the on-demand operation of 50-kg micro-satellites, including the Philippine-developed satellites. Also few more lightning stations installed in Indonesia and Japan are used. We will establish a new methodology to obtain very detail semi-real time information of typhoon and thunderstorm activities that cannot be achieved only with conventional observational equipment. Based on these new observations together with advanced radar measurements and drop/radio sondes campaigns, we try to construct the cutting-edge observation system to monitor the development of typhoons and thunderstorms, which may greatly contribute to the prediction of disasters and the public alerting system.

We started ULAT project in 2017 and completed the installation of the ground lightning observation station with automated weather station about half of the original plan and started continuous recording of the data. As for the satellite observation, we succeeded in reconstructing 3-D cloud structure with cameras onboard DIWATA-1at high resolution of ten to several meters. In September 2018, drop sonde campaign using aircraft in the eastside of Philippines was carried out under collaboration with Nagoya University team. Using the photos captured from the aircraft window inside typhoon eye, the very detailed cloud 3D models were produced at a resolution of 10 m or less. In this presentation the outline of recent progress of the projects highlighting the latest results of 3-D cloud modeling using images taken by satellite, aircraft and on the ground.