Evaluating WWLLN performance relative to TRMM/LIS

Abstract

AbstractThis study evaluates 4 years (2009–2012) of World Wide Lightning Location Network (WWLLN) data relative to the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission Lightning Imaging Sensor (LIS). In the Western Hemisphere, between 38°N and 38°S, the WWLLN detection efficiency (DE) (of LIS flashes) steadily improves from 6% during 2009 to 9.2% during 2012. The WWLLN is approximately three times more likely to detect a LIS flash over the ocean (17.3%) than over land (6.4%), and DE values greater than 20% only occur over the oceans. An average of 1.5 WWLLN strokes occurs during each matched LIS flash, but 71.5% of matched flashes are single stroke. Matched LIS flashes have more events/groups, longer durations, and larger areas than non‐matched flashes. The close spatial proximity (11 km) and temporal proximity (+62 ms) between matched WWLLN and LIS flashes are important for Geostationary Lighting Mapper risk reduction studies that use existing networks to develop proxy data sets.