Geostationary Lightning Mapper Comparison to Cloud Optical Depth in Various Storm Environments

Lightning is known to be associated with strong updrafts and tall cumulonimbus clouds, in which friction between cloud particles causes charge buildup and release in thunderstorms. In many severe thunderstorms, however, lightning occurs in the anvil as well as the core of the storm. This study aims to find patterns in lightning frequency per area in different storm modes and how they relate to cloud thickness. Some of these storm modes are: Single Cell Thunderstorms, Multi-Cell Thunderstorms, Supercells, Squall Lines, and Meso-convective Systems. To complete this study, new products on Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite-16 (GOES-16) were used. These products include the new Level 2+ Lightning Cluster-Filter Algorithm (LCFA) from the Global Lightning Mapper (GLM) instrument, and the Level 2+ Cloud Optical Depth (COD) product generated from the Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI). To develop the code associated with this project, storms from late May and Mid-June were used, but for the most accurate data, only storms occurring from July 5th, 2017 through July 6th, 2017 will be used. The GOES-16 products that are being used are in the beta maturity phase, which means that there are still some significant bugs in the data that is being distributed. To account for these potential bugs, the team decided to wait for the DO.00.05 upgrade in the DE, which fixed some data issues in the COD product. GLM data was able to be used after mid-June with the DO.04.04 upgrade. The purpose of this project is to test the overall capabilities of GLM in high sun glare environments, and to study lightning patterns associated with cloud thickness in different systems, considering: water content, cloud particle size, and liquid/ice water path, which can help in generating a value for Cloud Optical Depth.