Lightning Geo-location via Combined use of Time of Arrival,Arrival Azimuth, and VLF Propagation Measurements of Radio Atmospherics

摘要

This paper demonstrates a three-station lightning detection and geo-location network usingmeasurements in the Very Low Frequency (VLF) portion of the electromagnetic spectrum. Measurements of time of arrival (TOA), arrival azimuth, and magnitude of impulsive signals launched by lightning strikes at each station are used to triangulate and determine the peak current magnitude of individual lightning strikes. Accuracy of <10 km with ~60% detection efficiency during a one-minute time segment is demonstrated by comparing our triangulation results to high-resolution stroke data from the National Lightning Detection Network (NLDN). Empirically determined propagation parameters, including attenuation rate and propagation speed, are derived and utilized in the triangulation algorithm.