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Lightning Geolocation and Flash Rates from LF Radio Observations During the RELAMPAGO Field Campaign
  • Andre Lucas Antunes de Sa,
  • Robert Andrew Marshall,
  • Wiebke Deierling
Andre Lucas Antunes de Sa
University of Colorado Boulder

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Robert Andrew Marshall
University of Colorado Boulder
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Wiebke Deierling
University of Colorado Boulder
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Abstract

The lightning data products generated by the Low-Frequency (LF) radio lightning locating system (LLS) deployed during the RELAMPAGO field campaign in Argentina provide a valuable dataset to research the lightning evolution and characteristics of convective storms that produce high-impact weather. LF LLS datasets offer a practical range for mesoscale studies, allowing for the observation of lightning characteristics of storms such as Mesoscale Convective Systems (MCSs) or large convective lines that travel longer distances which are not necessarily staying in range of regional VHF-based lightning detection systems throughout their lifetime. LF LLSs also provide different information than optical space-borne lightning detectors. Lightning measurements exclusive to LF systems include discharge peak current, lightning polarity, and lightning type classification based on the lightning-emitted radio waveform. Furthermore, these measurements can provide additional information on flash rates (e.g. positive CG flash rate) or Narrow Bipolar Events (NBE) which may often be associated with dynamically intense convection. In this paper, the geolocation and data processing of the LF dataset collected during RELAMPAGO is fully described and its performance characterized, with location accuracy better than 10 km. The detection efficiency (DE) of the dataset is compared to that of the Geostationary Lightning Mapper (GLM), and spatiotemporal DE losses in the LF dataset are discussed. Storm case-studies on November 10, 2018, highlight the strengths of the dataset, which include robust flash clustering and insightful flash rate and peak current measures, while illustrating how its limitations, including DE losses, can be managed.