Forecaster Use and Evaluation of pGLM data at the NOAA Hazardous Weather Testbed and GOESR Proving Ground

A real-time operational pseudo-Geostationary Lightning Mapper (pGLM) product was created for the Hazardous Weather Testbed (HWT) Spring Experiment / Experimental Warning Program. This product utilized total lightning data from four Lightning Mapping Array (LMA) networks (Central Oklahoma, Texas Tech/southern panhandle, Northern Alabama, and Washington DC) and the Lightning Detection and Ranging network (Kennedy Space Center, Florida) that detect VHF radiation from lightning discharges. LMA VHF data was sorted into flashes using algorithms available through Warning Decision Support System – Integrated Information (WDSS‐II) using time and space criteria as well as distance from the network center. Following flash sorting, a Flash Extent Density product was created at 8‐km resolution every minute to match that expected by the GOESR‐GLM. Other GLM-resolution products including flash initiation density and 30 / 60 min accumulated and max densities were also produced. These pGLM lightning products were utilized by forecasters for various storm modes during warning operations in the HWT. Forecasters developed multiple procedures within the AWIPS/AWIPS2 framework to integrate the pGLM lightning data into the storm interrogation process.