Detection efficiency of the VLF World-Wide Lightning Location Network (WWLLN): Initial case study

Annales Geophysicae

Volumn 24, Issue 12, 2006, Pages 3197-3214

  Rodger, C J ^a   Werner, S ^a   Brundell, J B ^b   Lay, E H ^c   Thomson, N R ^a   Holzworth, R H ^c   Dowden, R L ^b  

^a UNIVERSITY OF OTAGO   (New Zealand)

^b LFEM Research Ltd   (New Zealand)

^c UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON   (United States)

Author keywords

[No Author keywords available]

Indexed keywords

CURRENT; DETECTION METHOD; EFFICIENCY MEASUREMENT; IONOSPHERE; LIGHTNING; SPATIAL VARIATION;

AUSTRALASIA; NEW ZEALAND;

EID: 33845947167     PISSN: 09927689     EISSN: 14320576     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.5194/angeo-24-3197-2006     Document Type: Article

References (46)

1. Barr, R., Jones, D. Ll., and Rodger, C. J.: ELF and VLF Radio Waves, J. Atmos. Sol. Terr. Phys., 62(17-18), 1689–1718, 2000.
2. Barrington-Leigh, C. and Inan, U. S.: Elves triggered by positive and negative lightning discharges, Geophys. Res. Lett., 26, 683–686, 1999.
3. Byron, W. J.: The monster antennas, Communications Quarterly, 6(2), 5–24, 1996.
4. Christian, H. J., Blakeslee, R. J., Boccippio, D. J., Boeck, W. L., Buechler, D. E., Driscoll, K. T., Goodman, S. J., Hall, J. M., Koshak, W. J., Mach, D. M., and Stewart, M. F.: Global frequency and distribution of lightning as observed from space by the Optical Transient Detector, J. Geophys. Res., 108(D1), doi:10.1029/2002JD002347, 2003.
5. Collier, A. B., Hughes, A. R. W., Lichtenberger, J., and Steinbach, P.: Seasonal and diurnal variation of lightning activity over southern Africa and correlation with European whistler observations, Ann. Geophys., 24, 529–542, 2006.
6. Crombie, D. D.: Periodic fading of VLF signals received over long paths during sunrise and sunset, Journal of Research National Bureau of Standards, Radio Science, 68D, 27–34, 1964.
7. Cummer, S. A.: Lightning and ionospheric remote sensing using VLF/ELF radio atmospherics, Ph.D. thesis, University of Stanford, Stanford, California, 1997.
8. Cummer, S. A., Inan, U. S., and Bell, T. F.: Ionospheric D region remote sensing using VLF radio atmospherics, Radio Sci. 33, 1781–1792, 1998.
9. Cummins, K. L. and Murphy, M. J.: Overview of lightning detection in the VLF, LF, and VHF frequency ranges, 2000 International Lightning Detection Conference, Tucson, Arizona, 1–10, 2000.
10. Cummins, K. L., Krider, E. P., and Malone, M. D.: The U.S. National Lightning Detection Network and applications of cloud-to-ground lightning data by electric power utilities, IEEE Trans. Electromagn. Comp., 40(4), 465–480, 1998a.
11. Cummins, K. L., Murphy, M. J., Bardo, E. A., Hiscox, W. L., Pyle, R. B., and Pifer, A. E.: A combined TOA/MDF technology upgrade of the U.S. National Lightning Detection Network, J. Geophys. Res, 103, 9035–9044, 1998b.
12. Dowden, R. L., Brundell, J. B., and Rodger, C. J.: VLF lightning location by time of group arrival (TOGA) at multiple sites, J. Atmos. Sol. Terr. Phys., 64, 817–830, 2002.
13. Ferguson, J. A. and Snyder, F. P.: Computer programs for assessment of long wavelength radio communication, Tech. Doc. 1773, Nav. Ocean Syst. Cent., San Diego, Calif., 1990.
14. Fullekrug, M.: Global TLE-rates and Remote Diagnostics, CAL mid-term review and science meeting, Elounda, Crete, Greece, June 20–24, abstract also available at: http://cal-crete.physics.uoc.gr/Abstracts/ D5_Martin_Fullekrug_Abstract.pdf, 2005.
15. Fullekrug, M. and Constable, S.: Global triangulation of intense lightning discharges, Geophys. Res. Lett., 27(3), 333–336, 2000.
16. Hamid, E. F., Kawasaki, Z.-I., and Mardiana, R.: Impact of the 1997–98 El Nino event on lightning activity over Indonesia, Geophys. Res. Lett., 28, 147–150, 2001.
17. Hargreaves, J. K.: The solar-terrestrial environment: an introduction to geospace, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1992.
18. Huang, E., Williams, E., Boldi, R., Heckman, S., Lyons, W., Taylor, M., Nelson, T., and Wong, C.: Criteria for sprites and elves based on Schumann resonance observations, J. Geophys. Res., 104(D14), 16943–16964, doi:10.1029/1999JD900139, 1999.
19. Jacobson, A. R., Holzworth, R., Harlin, J., Dowden, R., and Lay, E.: Performance Assessment of the World Wide Lightning Location Network (WWLLN), Using the Los Alamos Sferic Array (LASA) as Ground Truth, J. Atmos. and Oceanic Tech., A-731, 2006.
20. Jourdain, L. and Hauglustaine, D. A.: The global distribution of lightning NOx simulated on-line in a general circulation model, Phys. Chem. Earth Pt. C-Solar-Terr. Planet. Sci, 26, 585–591, 2001.
21. Jones, D. L.: Electromagnetic radiation from multiple return strokes of lightning, J. Atmos. Terr. Phys., 32, 1077–1093, 1970.
22. Knupp, K. R., Paech, S., and Goodman, S.: Variations in cloud-to-ground lightning characteristics among three adjacent tornadic supercell storms over the Tennessee valley region, Mon. Weather Rev., 131(1), 172–188, 2003.
23. Lay, E. H., Holzworth, R. H., Rodger, C. J., Thomas, J. N., Pinto, O., and Dowden, R. L.: WWLL Global Lightning Detection System: Regional Validation Study in Brazil, Geophys. Res. Lett., 31(3), L03102, doi:10.1029/2003GL018882, 2004.
24. Lyons, W. A., Nelson, T. E., Williams, E. R., Cramer, J. A., and Turner, T. R.: Enhanced positive cloud-to-ground lightning in thunderstorms ingesting smoke from fires, Science, 282, 77–80, 1998.
25. Mackerras, D., Darveniza, M., R. Orville, E., Williams, E. R., and Goodman, S. J.: Global lightning: Total, cloud and ground flash estimates. J. Geophys. Res., 103, 19 791–19 809, 1998.
26. Mende, S. B., Frey, H. U., Hsu, R. R., Su, H. T., Chen, A. B., Lee, L. C., Sentman, D. D., Takahashi, Y., and Fukunishi, H.: D region ionization by lightning-induced electromagnetic pulses, J. Geophys. Res., 110, A11312, doi:10.1029/2005JA011064, 2005.
27. Magono, C.: Thunderstorms, Elsevier Sci., Amsterdam, 1980.
28. McRae, W. M. and Thomson, N. R.: VLF phase and amplitude: daytime ionospheric parameters, J. of Atmos. Sol.-Terr. Phys., 62 (7), 609–618, 2000.
29. Orville, R. E. and Henderson, R. W.: Global distribution of midnight lightning, September 1977 to August 1978, Mon. Wea. Rev., 114, 12, 2640–2653, 1986.
30. Pierce, E. T.: Atmospherics and radio noise, in Lightning, vol. 1, edited by: Golde, R. H., Academic Press, New York, 309–350, 1977.
31. Popolansky, F.: Frequency distribution of amplitudes of lightning currents, Electra, 22, 139–47, 1972.
32. Rakov, V. A. and Uman, M. A.: Lightning; Physics and Effects, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 2003.
33. Rodger, C. J.: Red sprites, upward lightning, and VLF perturbations, Rev. Geophys., 37, 317–336, 1999.
34. Rodger, C. J., Cho, M., Clilverd, M. A., and Rycroft, M. J.: Lower ionospheric modification by lightning-EMP: Simulation of the nighttime ionosphere over the United States, Geophys. Res. Lett., 28(2), 199–202, 2001.
35. Rodger, C. J., Clilverd, M. A., and McCormick, R. J.: Significance of lightning generated whistlers to inner radiation belt electron lifetimes, J. Geophys. Res., 108(12), 1462, doi:10.1029/2003JA009906, 2003.
36. Rodger, C. J., Brundell, J. B., Dowden, R. L., and Thomson, N. R.: Location accuracy of long distance VLF lightning location network, Ann. Geophys., 22(3), 747–758, 2004.
37. Rodger, C. J., Brundell, J. B., and Dowden, R. L.: Location accuracy of long distance VLF lightning location network: Post algorithm upgrade, Ann. Geophys., 23, 277–290, 2005.
38. Schlegel, K., Diendorfer, G., Thern, S., and Schmidt, M.: Thunderstorms, lightning and solar activity – Middle Europe, J. Atmos. Sol.-Terr. Phys., 63, 1705–1713, 2001.
39. Smith, D. A., Eack, K. B., Harlin, J., Heavner, M. J., Jacobson, A. R., Massey, R. S., Shao, X. M., and Wiens, K. C.: The Los Alamos Sferic Array: A research tool for lightning investigations, Journal of Geophysical Research, 107, doi:10.1029/2001JD000502, 2002.
40. Thomson, N. R., Rodger, C. J., and Clilverd, M. A.: Large solar flares and their ionospheric D-region enhancements, J. Geophys. Res., 110, A06306, doi:10.1029/2005JA011008, 2005.
41. Uman, M. A.: The Lightning Discharge, Int. Geophys. Ser., Vol. 39, Academic Press, San Diego, Calif., 1987.
42. Watt, A. D.: VLF Radio Engineering, Pergamon Press, Oxford, 1967.
43. Whipple, F. J. W. and Scrase, F. J.: Point discharge in the electric field of the Earth, Met. Office Geophys. Mem. London, VII(68), 3–20, 1936.
44. Williams, E. R.: The Schumann Resonance: A global tropical thermometer, Science, 256, 1184–1187, 1992.
45. Yair, Y., Israelevich, P., Devir, A. D., Moalem, M., Price, C., Joseph, J. H., Levin, Z., Ziv, B., Sternlieb, A., and Teller, A.: New observations of sprites from the space shuttle, J. Geophys. Res., 109, D15201, doi:10.1029/2003JD004497, 2004.
46. Yair, Y., Price, C., Ziv, B., Israelevich, P., Sentman, D. D., Sao-Sabbas, F. T., Devir, A. D., Sato, M., Rodger, C. J., Moalem, M., Greenberg, E., and Yaron, O.: Space Shuttle observation of an unusual transient atmospheric emission, Geophys. Res. Lett., 32(2), doi:10.1029/2004GL021551, 2005.