An evaluation of the performance characteristics of the U.S. National Lightning Detection Network in Florida using rocket‐triggered lightning

Abstract

a total of 159 (158 negative and 1 positive) strokes, were triggered at Camp Blanding. Flashes consisting of the initial stage only (having no return strokes) were not considered in this study. Directly measured currents were obtained for 122 of these strokes in 29 flashes. Camp Blanding and NLDN events were correlated using GPS time stamps. The NLDN recorded 95 Camp Blanding strokes in 31 flashes. Of these 95, usable directly measured currents were obtained for 70 strokes in 22 flashes. Flash and stroke detection efficiencies were estimated to be about 84% and 60%, respectively. Median location error was about 600 m, with larger location errors (greater than 2 km) being associated with strokes having smaller peak currents (5-10 kA). The NLDN tended to underestimate peak current, with the median peak current estimation error (signed) being about 18%. There was a steady trend of improved stroke detection efficiency from 2001 to 2003.

The European lightning location system EUCLID – Part 2: Observations

“…The position and peak current of the first return stroke are chosen as the position and peak current of the CG flash, respectively. Note that positive discharges with peak currents smaller than 10 kA are likely to be misclassified as CG strokes when in fact those are more likely to be of intracloud nature (Cummins et al, 1998;Wacker and Orville, 1999a, b;Jerauld et al, 2005;Orville et al, 2002;Biagi et al, 2007). Therefore, we opt to remove them from the data set.…”

Experimental Study of Lightning-Induced Currents in a Buried Loop Conductor and a Grounded Vertical Conductor

“…1). Also note that Jerauld et al [21] found that the NLDN tended to underestimate peak currents by about 18% in 2002-2004. Since then, changes have been made in the NLDN algorithm.…”

Lightning activity in Brazilian thunderstorms during TROCCINOX: implications for NO<sub>x</sub> production

“…It is known that the amplitude of a measured electromagnetic signal is proportional to the peak current (Uman et al, 1975;Rakov et al, 1992;Cummins et al, 1998;Orville, 1999;Jerauld et al, 2005;Schulz et al, 2005). Thus, the peak current of LINET strokes is estimated from the VLF pulse amplitude.…”