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A simultaneous observation of lightning by ASIM, Colombia-Lightning Mapping Array, GLM and ISS-LIS
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  • Joan Montanya,
  • Jesús Alberto López Trujillo,
  • Carlos A. Morales Rodriguez,
  • Oscar A. van der Velde,
  • Ferran Fabró,
  • Nicolau Pineda,
  • Javier Navarro-Gonzalez,
  • Víctor Reglero,
  • Torsten Neubert,
  • Olivier Chanrion,
  • Steven Goodman,
  • Nikolai Østgaard,
  • Alfonso Ladino-Rincon,
  • David Romero,
  • Glòria Solà,
  • Ricard Horta,
  • Modesto Freijo
Joan Montanya
Technological University of Catalonia (UPC)

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Jesús Alberto López Trujillo
Technical University of Catalonia
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Carlos A. Morales Rodriguez
Universidade de São Paulo, Instituto Astronomia, Geofísica e Ciências Atmosféricas
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Oscar A. van der Velde
Technical University of Catalonia
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Ferran Fabró
Technical University of Catalonia
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Nicolau Pineda
Meteorological Service of Catalonia
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Javier Navarro-Gonzalez
University of Valencia
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Víctor Reglero
University of Valencia
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Torsten Neubert
Department of Solar System Physics, Denmark
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Olivier Chanrion
National Space Institute (DTU Space)
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Steven Goodman
Retired
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Nikolai Østgaard
Birkeland Centre for Space Science,University of Bergen
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Alfonso Ladino-Rincon
8. Department of Atmospheric Sciences, University of Illinois
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David Romero
Technical University of Catalonia
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Glòria Solà
Technological University of Catalonia
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Ricard Horta
Polytechnic University of Catalonia
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Modesto Freijo
Polytechnic University of Catalonia
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Abstract

The Atmosphere-Space Interactions Monitor (ASIM) on the International Space Station (ISS) provides optical radiances and images of lightning flashes in several spectral bands. This work presents a lightning flash simultaneously observed from space by ASIM, the Geostationary Lightning Mapper (GLM) and the Lightning Imaging Sensor on the International Space Station (ISS-LIS); and from ground by the Colombia Lightning Mapping Array (Colombia-LMA). Volumetric weather radar provides reflectivity data to help to interpret the effects of the cloud particles on the observed optical features. We found that surges in radiance in the band at 777.4 nm, appear to be related mostly with lightning processes involving currents as well with branching of lightning leaders with new leader development. In cloud areas with reflectivity <18 dBZ above the lightning leader channels at altitudes >7 km, these have been imaged by ASIM and GLM. But in the region with reflectivity <23 dBZ, despite its lower cloud tops and similar altitudes of lightning channels, these have been almost undetectable. The estimated relative optical depth results consistent with the observed optical features at the different locations of the flash. Despite of the effects of the cloud particles and the altitude of the lightning channels on the attenuation of the luminosity, the luminosity of the lightning channels due to different processes is fundamental for the imaging of lightning from space.
27 Mar 2021Published in Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres volume 126 issue 6. 10.1029/2020JD033735