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Coincident observations of lightning by the FORTE photodiode detector, the New Mexico Tech Lightning Mapping Array and the NLDN during STEPS
Author(s) -
Noble Cynthia M. M.,
Beasley William H.,
Postawko Susan E.,
Light T. E. L.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/2003gl018989
Subject(s) - lightning (connector) , lightning detection , remote sensing , satellite , storm , meteorology , upper atmospheric lightning , environmental science , detector , photodiode , geology , photometer , thunderstorm , physics , lightning strike , astronomy , optics , power (physics) , quantum mechanics
Opportunities for observation of lightning simultaneously from space and ground are relatively rare. One such opportunity for “ground truth” occurred during the STEPS field program. On 25 June, 2000 the FORTE Satellite passed over a storm that was also observed by a VHF Lightning Mapping Array (LMA). Of the 190 flashes mapped during the 2 minute 45 second pass, 26 had associated satellite optical data, and 3 of these were coincident with the only NLDN ground‐strike locations in the storm during that time. The maximum height, horizontal extent and duration of flashes detected optically tended to be greater than for those flashes not optically detected. Results in this paper, a companion paper and other published papers suggest that at least under some circumstances, CG flashes are relatively more likely than intra‐cloud (IC) flashes to be observed by an optical sensor in orbit.