The RELAMPAGO Lightning Mapping Array: Overview and Initial Comparison with the Geostationary Lightning Mapper

• Published in: Journal of atmospheric and oceanic technology 2020-08, Vol.37 (8), p.1457-1475
• Main Authors: Lang, Timothy J., Ávila, Eldo E., Blakeslee, Richard J., Burchfield, Jeff, Wingo, Matthew, Bitzer, Phillip M., Carey, Lawrence D., Deierling, Wiebke, Goodman, Steven J., Medina, Bruno Lisboa, Melo, Gregory, Pereyra, Rodolfo G.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Altitude; Arrays; Datasets; Deployment; Electric discharges; High altitude; High frequency; Lightning; Low altitude; Mapping; Thunderstorms; Very high frequencies
• ISSN: 0739-0572; 1520-0426
• DOI: 10.1175/JTECH-D-20-0005.1

During November 2018–April 2019, an 11-station very high frequency (VHF) Lightning Mapping Array (LMA) was deployed to Córdoba Province, Argentina. The purpose of the LMA was validation of the Geostationary Lightning Mapper (GLM), but the deployment was coordinated with two field campaigns. The LMA observed 2.9 million flashes (≥ five sources) during 163 days, and level-1 (VHF locations), level-2 (flashes classified), and level-3 (gridded products) datasets have been made public. The network’s performance allows scientifically useful analysis within 100 km when at least seven stations were active. Careful analysis beyond 100 km is also possible. The LMA dataset includes many examples of intense storms with extremely high flash rates (>1 s −1 ), electrical discharges in overshooting tops (OTs), as well as anomalously charged thunderstorms with low-altitude lightning. The modal flash altitude was 10 km, but many flashes occurred at very high altitude (15–20 km). There were also anomalous and stratiform flashes near 5–7 km in altitude. Most flashes were small (