Lightning Geolocation and Flash Rates from LF Radio Observations During
the RELAMPAGO Field Campaign
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.