A comparison of lightning data provided by ZEUS and LINET networks over Western Europe

Abstract

Abstract. In the framework of this paper, one-year of lightning data from the experimental network ZEUS operated by the National Observatory of Athens is compared to collocated data provided by the LINET detection network. The area of comparison is limited to a part of Central-Western Europe, where LINET data exhibits the highest data quality, permitting thus to be used as the validation dataset. The location error of ZEUS was calculated to be ∼6.8 km, while the detection efficiency was ∼25%, with a characteristic underdetection during nighttime. Moreover, the analysis revealed that ZEUS is also capable to detect not only cloud-to-ground but also intra-cloud strokes. Analysis of a specific case study revealed that the spatial distribution of ZEUS was very close to that of LINET, although the total number of strokes as seen by ZEUS is much lower than the one from LINET. The overall analysis permitted to assess the main characteristics of ZEUS network, information considered of paramount importance before the use of ZEUS data for a variety of observational and modeling work.

An overview of the lightning and atmospheric electricity observations collected in southern France during the HYdrological cycle in Mediterranean EXperiment (HyMeX), Special Observation Period 1

“…6a-c). This example, among others, confirms the capability of sferic-detecting networks to locate some IC components, as Lagouvardos et al (2009) already reported with ZEUS and LINET. The HyMeX SOP1 data offer a unique opportunity to not only study the CG and IC detection efficiencies as well as location accuracy, but also to investigate the discharge properties with a signal strong and well pronounced enough to be detected and located by long range VLF detection systems.…”

“…Further details on the ZEUS network are given in Kotroni and Lagouvardos (2008). Lagouvardos et al (2009) have compared the ZEUS system with the LINET system over a major area of central-western Europe, where the latter system presents its major efficiency and accuracy, and found that the location error of ZEUS was 6.8 km and the detection efficiency 25 %. These numbers are also applicable for the SOP1 domain.…”

Relationships between lightning and rainfall intensities during rainy events in Cyprus

“…Not all the rain gauges were used for every rainy event, since precipitation measurements were not always readily available due to gaps in the data or rain gauge malfunctioning. Lightning data retrieved from the ZEUS system were provided by the National Observatory of Athens (NOA) in Greece (an assessment of the performance of the ZEUS system has been presented by Morales et al, 2007, and, more recently, by Lagouvardos, 2008, andLagouvardos et al, 2009).…”

“…One of these land stations is in operation at Larnaka Meteorological Office, located on the southeast coast of Cyprus, since 2002. ZEUS has a very good coverage of the area of the Eastern Mediterranean; the system is administrated and the data are Correspondence to: S. Michaelides (silas@ucy.ac.cy) archived by the National Observatory of Athens (NOA), in Greece (see Lagouvardos et al, 2009).…”

“…Not all the rain gauges were used for since precipitation measurements were not always readily available due to rain gauge malfunctioning. Lightning data retrieved from the ZEUS system he National Observatory of Athens (NOA) in Greece (an assessment of the ZEUS system has been presented by Morales et al (2007) and, more recently, ouvardos (2008) and Lagouvardos et al (2009)). ent study was to identify possible relationships between rainfall and lightning geographical area.…”