"ORAGES": a dedicated sensor for detection, localisatioi and fine analysis of lightning flashes from space

• Published in: Acta astronautica 2004-08, Vol.55 (3-9), p.245-254
• Main Authors: Bondiou-Clergerie, A, Lalande, P, Roux, F
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0094-5765
• DOI: 10.1016/j.actaastro.2004.05.050

According to mission parameters, space-based lightning sensors enable detailed analysis of mesoscale convective systems and large scale atmospheric perturbations (e.g. intertropical convergence zone, monsoon regions, tropical cyclones) and/or statistical studies of the global parameters related to electrical activity on a large spatial and temporal scale. Measurement of spatial distribution and frequency of atmospheric discharges, correlated with meteorological satellites observations, gives the opportunity to have a more precise knowledge of convective systems, to identify the more active regions, to characterise their life cycle and to establish a geographical and seasonal climatology of thunderstorms. Additionally, the global analysis of the electrical activity of thunderstorms could be a diagnosis element of global warming or a quantitative basis for the compared evaluation of natural and anthropic production of nitrogen oxides. Within the CNES microsatellite program, the ORAGES mission was proposed in order to carry out lightning detection, localisation and characterisation based upon the interferometric analysis of their VHF radiation. The present paper describes the different components of the instrument (antenna network, receiver and data-processing system) and presents an evaluation of its performances.