Early coincident satellite optical and ground‐based RF observations of lightning

Abstract

The DMSP Piggy‐Back Experiment (PBE), was launched into polar orbit in 1977 to detect optical emissions from lightning. On August 8, 1977 it recorded 11 lightning flashes from a storm in the field of view for 2 minutes 36 seconds. During that period there were 8 cloud‐to‐ground (CG) flashes located by means of data recorded at two stations in Florida. Of these, 7 were coincident with optical signals. The optical waveforms coincident with the located CG flashes are different from those that were not coincident, and the differences are similar to the differences between CG and intra‐cloud flash (IC) optical signals recorded by the FORTE satellite. Satellite optical detection of 7 out of 8 CG flashes is consistent with results in a companion paper and other previous results, suggesting that CG flashes are relatively more likely than intra‐cloud (IC) flashes to be observed by an optical sensor in orbit.