Early Assessment of Geostationary Lightning Mapper Observations

NASA’s Short-term Prediction Research and Transition Center (SPoRT) has been heavily involved with the GOES-R Proving Ground in preparing for the Geostationary Lightning Mapper (GLM). This has been through demonstration and training work with the ground-based lightning mapping arrays, collaborations with end users, and with access to the initial GLM beta data through the GOES Rebroadcast data. With the initial GLM data release, SPoRT has been working with collaborative weather forecast offices (WFOs), center weather service units (CWSUs), and several local emergency managers to conduct an early, operational assessment of the GLM observations. Due to the delay in the data reaching National Weather Service forecasters, this initial effort has been informal in preparation for a formal assessment in the spring of 2018. This presentation focuses on this early feedback on how operational end users, from the WFOs, CWSUs, and emergency managers are planning to use these data as well as how to best display GLM observations. Combined, this will provide an early look at how operational users will use the GLM to better communicate aviation concerns, lightning safety, and severe weather decision support to the public.