LLSDA: Design and Implementation of Lightning Location Data Analysis and Visualization

Visualizing lightning location data is necessary in analyzing and researching lightning activity patterns.This article uses C#and the cross-platform.NET framework to develop a lightning location data analysis class library and the data-driven client to help lightning researchers improve work efficiency by avoiding repeated wheel invention.Lightning Location System Data Analyzer(LLSDA)is a suite of software tools that includes a.NET class library for software developers and a desktop application for end users.It supports a wide range of lightning location data formats,such as the University of Washington Global Lightning Location System(WWLLN)and Beijing Huayun Dongfang ADTD Lightning Location System data format,and maintains scalability.The class library can easily read,parse,and analyze lightning location data,and combined with third-party frameworks can realize grid analysis.The desktop application can be combined with MeteoInfo(a GIS open-source project)for secondary development.

Estimation of Lightning-Generated NO_(x) in the Mainland of China Based on Cloud-to-Ground Lightning Location Data

Lightning-generated nitrogen oxides(LNO_(x))have a major influence on the atmosphere and global climate change.Therefore,it is of great importance to obtain a more accurate estimation of LNO_(x).The aim of this study is to provide a reference for the accurate estimation of the total LNO_(x) in the mainland of China based on cloud-to-ground lightning(CG)location data from 2014 to 2018.The energy of each CG flash was based on the number of return strokes per CG flash,the peak current of each return stroke,and the assumed CG breakdown voltage.The energy of intracloud lightning(IC)was based on the estimated frequencies of IC and the assumed energy of each IC flash.Combining the energy of lightning and the number of nitric oxide(NO)molecules produced by unit energy(ρno),the total LNO_(x) production in the mainland of China was determined.The LNO_(x) in the mainland of China estimated in this study is in the range(0.157-0.321)×10^(9) kg per year[Tg(N)yr-1],which is on the high end of other scholars’works.Negative cloud-to-ground lightning(NCG)flashes produce the most moles of NO_(x),while positive cloud-to-ground lightning(PCG)flashes produce the least total moles of NO_(x).The breakdown voltage of PCG is greater than that of IC or NCG,while the latter has a greater output of LNO_(x).

Lightning Nowcasting with an Algorithm of Thunderstorm Tracking Based on Lightning Location Data over the Beijing Area

A thunderstorm tracking algorithm is proposed to nowcast the possibility of lightning activity over an area of concern by using the total lightning data and neighborhood technique.The lightning radiation sources observed from the Beijing Lightning Network(BLNET)were used to obtain information about the thunderstorm cells,which are significantly valuable in real-time.The boundaries of thunderstorm cells were obtained through the neighborhood technique.After smoothing,these boundaries were used to track the movement of thunderstorms and then extrapolated to nowcast the lightning approaching in an area of concern.The algorithm can deliver creditable results prior to a thunderstorm arriving at the area of concern,with accuracies of 63%,80%,and 91%for lead times of 30,15,and 5 minutes,respectively.The real-time observations of total lightning appear to be significant for thunderstorm tracking and lightning nowcasting,as total lightning tracking could help to fill the observational gaps in radar reflectivity due to the attenuation by hills or other obstacles.The lightning data used in the algorithm performs well in tracking the active thunderstorm cells associated with lightning activities.

Error Correction of Lightning Location Data

[ Objective] The study aimed to correct error of lightning location data with small amplitude. [ Method] Using the curve fitting toolbox of matlab mathematical software, the distribution of lightning location data in Chongqing during 1999 -2008 was fitted based on logarithmic normal distribution function, and the specific characters of lightning data with current amplitude from -10 to 10 kA were analyzed. [ Result] During 1999 - 2008, the frequency of lightning with current amplitude from -10 to 10 kA in Chongqing City accounted for 4.93% of total frequency, while the fre- quency of lightning with current amplitude from -5 to 5 kA accounted for only 1.27%, lower than 2%, according with the conventional deletion proportion in China. Lightning data with current amplitude from -5 to 5 kA caused a great disturbance to the fitting effect, so the fitting effect was the best after these lightning data was deleted. After the lightning location system of Chongqing City was upgraded in 2005, the frequency of lightning with current amplitude from -10 to 10 kA decreased, and there were obvious changes in the frequency of lightning with current amplitude from -10 to -5 kA and from 5 to 10 kA, while the frequency of lightning with current amplitude from -5 to 5 kA was small and stable, so these data could be deleted. [Conclusion] The research could provide theoretical references for error correction of lightning location data with small amplitude in Chongqing City.

3-D Lightning Location Solution and Precision Analysis of Cloud Flash

Using the spatial coordinates of detection stations and the time of arrival of lightning wave, the observation equations can be expressed. For the large lightning detection network, the least square method is used to process the adjustment of observation data to find the most probable value of lightning position, and the result is assessed by the mean error and dilution of precision. Lightning location precision is affected by figure factor. The conclusion can be used in the design of location network, data processing, and data analysis.

COMPARISON OF SINGLE-STATION LIGHTNING LOCATION WITH THREE-STATION MEASUREMENTS AND RADAR DATA

A single-station or monostatic lightning detection and ranging system (M-LDARS),that is based on Wait's wave propagation theory and arrival-time differences between sky- and ground-wave atmospherics,has been developed by the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC).Lightning location by the system was compared with a three-station lightning location (TLL) system during July and August 1991 in Beijing,under the support of Chinese Academy of Meteorological Sciences (CAMS).The experimental results show that M-LDARS system can be used to observe direction,distance,intensity and polarity of cloud-to-ground strokes with good confidence for ranges less than about 250 km.90 percent of M-LDARS location points were within radar echoes,i.e.about 90% of the points were in- side of the 0 dB isoline or outside,but within 10 km of the 0 dB isopleth.Average direction deviation and relative aver- age deviation of distance between the single- and three-station measurements are respectively 12.8° and 14.1%.

A PARAMETRIC METHOD OF SITE ERROR ESTIMATION FOR A LIGHTNING LOCATION SYSTEM

In this paper,a parametric method of site error estimation is developed for a lightning location system (LLS) which consists of three or more direction finders (DFs) and one position analyzer (PA). The site error for each DF is a function of bearings measured by the DF, and is assumed to be limited-term harmonics. The problem of site error estimation is reduced to a non-linear unconstrained minimization problem by employing the eigen technique (Orville Jr., 1987). The site error can be found directly by minimizing the objective function. By using the data set obtained with the LLS of three DFs in Beijing area during the summer of 1988, the site error correction curves for all DFs were found. About 4900 lightning flashes detected by the three DFs were used. The results showed that about 95% of the flash residuals of the sample were within ± 1 degree after corrections. The lightning locations with site error corrections were more consistent with the corresponding radar echoes than those without corrections.

Temporal and Spatial Distribution of Lightning Activity in Ulanqab City

From January 2020 to December 2021,Ulanqab Meteorological Bureau of Inner Mongolia used VLF/LF lightning locator to carry out three-dimensional lightning monitoring in Ulanqab City,and compared with ADTD lightning location data in the same period.The results show that both VLF/LF lightning locator and ADTD lightning locator had excellent monitoring ability for lightning during flood season in Ulanqab.VLF/LF lightning locator was slightly superior to ADTD lightning locator in observation accuracy,the observation ability of low-current cloud-to-ground lightning,intracloud lightning observation and so on.There were obvious temporal and spatial characteristics of cloud-to-ground lightning during flood season in Ulanqab,and there was a certain correlation between the areas where lightning appeared frequently and surface water.Intracloud lightning was mainly concentrated at a height of 1-7 km.Negative cloud-to-ground lightning accounted for about 75%of total cloud-to-ground lightning,and negative intracloud lightning accounted for 39%of total intracloud lightning.

Study on the Scope of Small Amplitude of Cloud-to-ground Lightning in Lightning Weather Monitoring

Based on lightning location data in Chongqing region during 1999-2008,the frequency of lightning in various amplitude ranges and its annual variations were analyzed firstly.Afterwards,with the aid of matlab mathematical software,the distribution of the lightning location data was fitted using logarithmic normal distribution function.The results showed that after data of cloud-to-ground lightning with current amplitude from-5 to5 kA were deleted from lightning location data,the statistical characteristics of cloud-to-ground lightning could be reflected well.Meanwhile,lightning with current amplitude from-5 to 5 kA accounted for 1.05%（less than 2%）,which accorded with the detection principle of lightning position indicator（there existed error detection）.Therefore,cloud-to-ground lightning with current amplitude of-5-5 kA in lightning location data of Chongqing region was defined as small amplitude of cloud-to-ground lightning,which could provide scientific references for the processing of lightning location data in Chongqing region as well as analysis and quality control of lightning location data in other regions.

A Review of Atmospheric Electricity Research in China

The importance of atmospheric electricity research has been increasingly recognized in recent decades. Research on atmospheric electricity has been actively conducted since the 1980 s in China. Lightning physics and its effects, as important branches of atmospheric electricity, have received more attention because of their significance both in scientific research and lightning protection applications. This paper reviews atmospheric electricity research based primarily on ground-based field experiments at different regions in China in the last decade. The results described in this review include physics and effects of lightning, rocket-triggered lightning and its physical processes of discharge, thunderstorm electricity on the Tibetan Plateau and its surrounding areas, lightning activity associated with severe convective storms, the effect and response of lightning to climate change, numerical simulation of thunderstorm electrification and lightning discharge, lightning detection and location techniques, and transient luminous events above thunderstorms.

Analysis of the Initial Stage Intracloud Lightning Using the Pulse Location Technique Based on the Fast Electric Field Change

Academy of Sciences,Beijing 100029 2 Lanzhou University,Lanzhou 730000 3 Cold and Arid Regions Environmental and Engineering Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences,Lanzhou 730000 4 Nanjing University of Information Science＆Technology,Nanjing 210044 Using both fast and slow electric field change sensors and field mill,multi-station observations on lightning flashes over China inland plateau areas were conducted during the summer of 2004.All of the stations were synchronized by GPS with a time-resolution of±50 ns.Using the different time of arrival（DTOA）and based on the fast electric field change sensor,a lightning radiation location technique was developed.Radiation pulses in the initial stages of five intracloud（IC）lightning discharges which occurred on 20 August were analyzed.The results indicate that the technique developed could effectively locate the lightning radiation sources.Furthermore,the lightning discharges were compared with the Doppler radar data.The results show that the radiation sources were well associated with the storm development.When the storm was at the mature stage with an echo top of about 10.9 km,the radiation sources ranged from 5.2 to 8.3 km above mean sea level;when the storm gradually became weaker,with echo top of about 7.9 km,the radiation sources ranged from 3.0 to 5.9 km.In particular,one of the IC lightning discharges ranged from 3.0 to 4.9 km during the dissipation stage of the storm.The results also indicate that the radiation sources were closely associated with the high reflectivity region（25–50 dBZ）of the storm,which,to some extent,demonstrates the reliability of the location results,thereby showing that multi-station observations of fast electric field change sensors could be a useful tool for monitoring the storm development.Location errors from radiation sources were also compared with the radar data and the results of a simple simulation.It was found that the errors were getting smaller when the radiation sources approached the center of the detection network, and vice versa.Compared with the limited experimental observations,the simulation results were found capable of effectively reflecting the location errors.

EVALUATION OF GROUND STROKE DENSITY DISTRIBUTION AND LIGHTNING DETECTION EFFICIENCY IN BEIJING-TIANJIN-HEBEI AREA

It is possible to understand the lightning activities in a specific region and compare test results of different apparatus only when a reliable evaluation of detection efficiency distribution pertaining to a particular lightning location system(LLS)is available. Based on the data in 1992.an approximate evaluation of detection efficiency spatial distribu- tion for single-station lightning location system(M-LDARS)and LLP three-station lightning loca- tion system in Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei area is presented in the paper,showing that the average detec- tion efficiencies are smaller than 48% and 46% respectively.In addition,the article offers an eval- uation of spatial distribution of ground stroke density(D_g)and positive stroke percentage,indicat- ing that six high stroke density zones exist along the southeastern sides of the Taihang and Yan- shan Mountains.The stroke density of mountainous region is higher than that of the plain region, in contrast to the case of positive stroke percentage.Also,it is shown that within a radius of 250 km,the average of D_g is 1.2(km^(-2) a^(-1))while the average positive stroke percentage is 10.9%. Finally,the paper proposes a possible test method of accurately evaluating the spatial distribution of detection efficiency(A).

Understanding the dynamical-microphysical-electrical processes associated with severe thunderstorms over the Beijing metropolitan region

The Dynamical-microphysical-electrical Processes in Severe Thunderstorms and Lightning Hazards(STORM973)project conducted coordinated comprehensive field observations of thunderstorms in the Beijing metropolitan region(BMR)during the warm season from 2014 to 2018.The aim of the project was to understand how dynamical,microphysical and electrical processes interact in severe thunderstorms in the BMR,and how to assimilate lightning data in numerical weather prediction models to improve severe thunderstorm forecasts.The platforms used in the field campaign included the Beijing Lightning Network(BLNET,consisting of 16 stations),2 X-band dual linear polarimetric Doppler radars,and 4 laser raindrop spectrometers.The collaboration also made use of the China Meteorological Administration’s mesoscale meteorological observation network in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region.Although diverse thunderstorm types were documented,it was found that squall lines and multicell storms were the two major categories of severe thunderstorms with frequent lightning activity and extreme rainfall or unexpected local short-duration heavy rainfall resulting in inundations in the central urban area,influenced by the terrain and environmental conditions.The flash density maximums were found in eastern Changping District,central and eastern Shunyi District,and the central urban area of Beijing,suggesting that the urban heat island effect has a crucial role in the intensification of thunderstorms over Beijing.In addition,the flash rate associated with super thunderstorms can reach hundreds of flashes per minute in the central city regions.The super(5%of the total),strong(35%),and weak(60%)thunderstorms contributed about 37%,56%,and 7%to the total flashes in the BMR,respectively.Owing to the close connection between lightning activity and the thermodynamic and microphysical characteristics of the thunderstorms,the lightning flash rate can be used as an indicator of severe weather events,such as hail and short-duration heavy rainfall.Lightning data can also be assimilated into numerical weather prediction models to help improve the forecasting of severe convection and precipitation at the cloud-resolved scale,through adjusting or correcting the thermodynamic and microphysical parameters of the model.