Sensitivity analysis of lightning stroke-to-flash grouping criteria

Segundo, Helen San; López, Jesús A.; Pineda, Nicolau; Altube, Patricia; Montanyà, Joan

doi:10.1016/j.atmosres.2020.105023

Cited by 7 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 43 publications

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“…While in Barrancabermeja (Colombia), according to Aranguren et al (2017), the detection efficiency was estimated to be 95% based on the detected stroke peak currents. The mean location accuracy was estimated at 246 m with a standard deviation of 300 m. The LLS classifies the strokes as CG and intra-cloud (IC), but some low-peak current events can be misclassified (Cummins & Murphy, 2009;San Segundo et al, 2020). Accordingly, peak current-based thresholds ( 6 kA for negative strokes and +8 kA for positive strokes) have been implemented to reduce misclassification.…”

Section: Datamentioning

confidence: 99%

Recurrent Lightning Spots: Where Lightning Strikes More Than Twice

Sola,

López,

Montanyà

et al. 2024

JGR Atmospheres

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The expression “lightning never strikes twice” is questioned in this paper because, among the randomness of lightning impacts, some spots are hit even more than twice year after year. This article introduces the recurrent lightning spots (RLS) concept, which are locations periodically impacted by cloud‐to‐ground lightning every consecutive year over a certain period. RLS are investigated in two regimes, with markedly different lightning climatology but similar orography, for 10 consecutive years: Catalonia (North East of Spain, Europe) and Barrancabermeja (North Central Colombia, South America). Results revealed 148 and 916 RLS in Catalonia and Barrancabermeja, respectively. RLS in both regions are typically found to be related to tall structures, mountain peaks, and steep terrain. The method allowed us to identify those tall towers and orographic relief frequently affected by lightning that are not detected with the mere computation of the ground flash density. In the case of Catalonia, some RLS are found offshore. Besides the scientific interest in understanding lightning, the new concept of RLS provides additional and valuable information applicable to lightning protection engineering.

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Section: Datamentioning

confidence: 99%

Recurrent Lightning Spots: Where Lightning Strikes More Than Twice

Sola,

López,

Montanyà

et al. 2024

JGR Atmospheres

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“…The WWLLN dataset used in this study mainly provides the occurrence time, latitude, and longitude of the lightning strokes. A ground-based lightning location network always determines the geographical location of each stroke in a flash separately [65]. Therefore, the WWLLN strokes were grouped into flashes in this study to analyze the corresponding flash activities.…”

Section: Wwllnmentioning

confidence: 99%

Preliminary Observations from the China Fengyun-4A Lightning Mapping Imager and Its Optical Radiation Characteristics

et al. 2020

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The Fengyun-4A (FY-4A) Lightning Mapping Imager (LMI) is the first satellite-borne lightning imager developed in China, which can detect lightning over China and its neighboring regions based on a geostationary satellite platform. In this study, the spatial distribution and temporal variation characteristics of lightning activity over China and its neighboring regions were analyzed in detail based on 2018 LMI observations. The observation characteristics of the LMI were revealed through a comparison with the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM)-Lightning Imaging Sensor (LIS) and World Wide Lightning Location Network (WWLLN) observations. Moreover, the optical radiation characteristics of lightning signals detected by the LMI were examined. Factors that may affect LMI detection were discussed by analyzing the differences in optical radiation characteristics between LMI and LIS flashes. The results are as follows. Spatially, the flash density distribution pattern detected by the LMI was similar to those detected by the LIS and WWLLN. High-flash density regions were mainly concentrated over Southeastern China and Northeastern India. Temporally, LMI flashes exhibited notable seasonal and diurnal variation characteristics. The LMI detected a concentrated lightning outbreak over Northeastern India in the premonsoon season and over Southeastern China in the monsoon season, which was consistent with LIS and WWLLN observations. LMI-observed diurnal peak flash rates occurred in the afternoon over most of the regions. There was a “stepwise” decrease in the LMI-observed optical radiance, footprint size, duration, and number of groups per flash, from the ocean to the coastal regions to the inland regions. LMI flashes exhibited higher optical radiance but lasted for shorter durations than LIS flashes. LMI observations are not only related to instrument performance but are also closely linked to onboard and ground data processing. In future, targeted improvements can be made to the data processing algorithm for the LMI to further enhance its detection capability.

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