# Presentation: 284656

## North Alabama and DC Lightning Mapping

- presented at the
- SPoRT Science Advisory Committee (SAC) Meeting
- 12-14 June 2007
- Richard J. Blakeslee, NASA/MSFC
- Dennis E. Buechler, UAH

## Approach to Lightning Mapping

*New Mexico Tech Lightning Mapping Array*
- Time-of-arrival system
- 10-12 stations over 50-70 km diameter area
- Passive system: locates impulsive radio frequency signals produced by lightning (‘static’)
- “Listens” in a locally unused VHF TV channel (e.g., Ch3, 5, 8, 10, etc.)
- Produces observations in near real-time (4-D maps of the lightning channel)
- Detects total lightning (i.e., CG and IC) with good spatial accuracy, temporal resolution, and high detection efficiency

## Time-of-Arrival (TOA) Technique

- Signal arrives at station  i
- (x , y , z ) at time  t

- Impulsive lightning
- event at (x, y, z, t)

-  Measure ti at N>4 locations ( 50 ns accuracy)
-  Solve for x, y, z, t (4 unknowns)

##   LMA Hardware

***North Alabama LMA***
- LMA Sensor Sites
- VHF ground plane antenna
- Sensor electronics / site computer
- Communications (mostly 2.4 GHz wireless Ethernet network link)
- Relay Sites and Central Station
- PC router (up to 4 network links)
- Communications (multiple antennas require great care in channel selection)

## North Alabama Lightning Mapping Array 

- - 10 stations over 65 x50 km diameter area
- - Operational since Nov. 2001

**North Alabama LMA**

- One hour of real-time data

## Example of LMA Flash

## North Alabama Observing Systems

- The LMA is a component of the Severe Thunderstorm Observation, Research, and Monitoring Network (STORMnet) providing total lightning mapping.
- STORMnet (as part of SPoRT) is a project to improve severe and hazardous weather forecasting and warning through collaboration among NASA and University scientists, NWS forecasters, and commercial partners.

**ASOS**

## Total Lightning Data to the WFO

***Scientific Benefits to WFOs***
**Increased Situational Awareness,     Confidence Limits **
**Rapid Update- Potential for increased lead time, reduced FAR**
**Identification of intensifying and weakening storms, potential severe storms, microburst wind shears, CG threat area**
**Fills gaps in radar coverage (e.g., edge of radar coverage)**
**Use in Warning Event Simulator for office training**

**HUN CWA**

**LMA AWIPS Area**

## Flow of LMA data into AWIPS

- Gridded LMA data

- Forecaster at Workstation

- WFO

## NALMA Imagery in AWIPS

**Source density grids in netCDF format**
**17 height levels (0-16 km)**
**Lowest level is composite**
**Auto-loads 2 min grids**
**2 km horizontal grid**
**1 km vertical**
**LMA image can display side-by-side with NEXRAD reflectivity and velocity, satellite, or other fields**
**LMA covers 7 WFO CWAs**
**Data provided to HUN, BMX, DGX, and OHX NWS offices**

## History of NALMA data at HUN

- November 2001: LMA operations begin
- May 2003: Started ingesting LMA data into AWIPS
- May 6, 2003: First case LMA used to warn
- August 27, 2003: First case used to not issue a warning
- Summer 2003: Helped install LMA data at BMX and OHX
- Building cases for training on WES
- Two sent to SRH WES case library
- Many more cases archived (more than 30 so far)
- Assisted other offices with software and advice

## Alternate LISDAD II Display

- Along with AWIPS forecasters can interrogate data using LISDAD II software
- Provides location and number of LMA/NLDN samples
- Alternate to the AWIPS display
- Heritage: Melbourne, FL *(NASA, NWS, MIT/LL)*

## Washington DC Metropolitan Lightning Mapper Demonstration

*Conceived at Southern Thunder Alliance Workshop  **(Ft Worth, TX, 2005; endorsed by SAC, 2005)*
**Due to cancellation of VORTEX-II Experiment in 2007, pursue newly available opportunity to deploy, evaluate, and assess the scientific and technological merits of total lightning mapping with the NMT portable LMA in an additional operational setting.**
- Why DC Metro Area?
** ****Transitional climatic regime, yet still many severe storms**
** ****Coverage of 3 major heavily used airports**
** ****Complex terrain to west, urban environment**
** ****Sterling WFO history of supporting new technology assessments**
** ****Leverage with on-going TDWR evaluations**
** ****Proximity of MDL developers to WFO forecasters**
** ****Access to students, faculty for system operations/maintenance**
** ****Local interest (broadcast community, researchers, forecasters)**

## Portable LMA Station(note: NSSTC now building 20 portable stations)

- Electronics housed in shielded
-     thermoelectric cooler enclosure
- Operate from  external 12 VDC battery and/or
-     power supply.  ~12 watts power
- Battery operation:  48+hours (w/out cooling)
-     20+ hours (with cooling)
- Lightweight (10 lbs)

## Washington DC LMA

- Channel 10, 192-198 MHz (upper VHF)
- 8 stations operational, 10 stations planned (2007)
- Data ingested into AWIPS at higher spatial and temporal resolution (1 km x 1 km x 1 km x 1 min)

## DC Severe Thunderstorms 4 July 2006

- I used the DC-LMA web site to view updates on lightning activity during my shift at the command center (through about 3:45 PM). It was VERY useful, since I had no other "real-time" lightning data available. I used various links to NWS forecasts, radar, and satellite data via the Internet to conduct weather briefings to the command center staff. In addition, our WFO staff kept an eye on the DC area via all of the data available in AWIPS.**... the DC-LMA data were VERY useful in monitoring storm activity. I was able to show the center staff where the lightning was occurring. In addition, I monitored changes in lightning coverage/intensity as a rough  gauge of thunderstorm changes in intensity.”**
- Steve Zubrick, WFO Sterling (LWX)

## Severna Park, MD F1 Tornado28 Sept. 2006

- DC LMA 2100-2300 UTC

- DC LMA 2230-2232 UTC

- Severna
- Park

## Public Web

- DC LMA
- Site (2006)
- Model that will be used for the NALMA

**http://branch.nsstc.nasa.gov/PUBLIC/DCLMA**