Martin J. Murphy, Kenneth L. Cummins, Global Atmospherics Inc., Tucson, Arizona
Launa Maier, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Kennedy Space Center, Florida
The three-dimensional Lightning Detection and Ranging (LDAR) system at the NASA Kennedy Space Center (KSC) is being renovated with new central processing capabilities and an updated location algorithm that will optimize the three-dimensional position of each event. A typical flash produces anywhere from 10 to more than 1000 VHF impulses that can be detected and located in three dimensions by the LDAR system. Flash statistics have been determined with an algorithm for grouping the many sources according to which flash produced them. The algorithm uses an implicit maximum velocity constraint for the propagation of branches and accounts for degraded location accuracy with increasing distance from the network. In this paper, we first present an overview of the LDAR technology. We then discuss the nature of location errors as a function of distance from the center of the LDAR system, and the effects of these errors on the flash grouping algorithm. Finally, we illustrate some of the features of flashes, such as vertical extent, rate, and type (cloud or cloud-to-ground) as a function of time using a few case studies.
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