Abstract
Despite the significant progress in the understanding of the phenomenon of lightning and the physics behind it, locating and mapping its occurrence remain a challenge. Such localization and mapping of very high frequency (VHF) lightning radiation sources provide a foundation for the subsequent research on predicting lightning, saving lives, and protecting valuable assets. A major technical challenge in attempting to map the sources of lightning is mapping accuracy. The three common electromagnetic radio frequency-based lightning locating techniques are magnetic direction finder, time of arrival, and interferometer (ITF). Understanding these approaches requires critically reviewing previous attempts. The performance and reliability of each method are evaluated on the basis of the mapping accuracy obtained from lightning data from different sources. In this work, we review various methods for lightning mapping. We study the approaches, describe their techniques, analyze their merits and demerits, classify them, and derive few opportunities for further research. We find that the ITF system is the most effective method and that its performance may be improved further. One approach is to improve how lightning signals are preprocessed and how noise is filtered. Signal processing can also be utilized to improve mapping accuracy by introducing methods such as wavelet transform in place of conventional cross-correlation approaches.
Highlights
Lightning is a natural phenomenon in which electrical discharges occur between two objects with different polarities
very high frequency (VHF) lightning mapping was traditionally performed using the time of arrival (TOA) technique [13], which was developed in Florida to achieve accurate 3D measurements for locating radio frequency (RF) radiation sources [14]–[16]
Lightning mapping is crucial in lightning monitoring, tracking, detection, and mapping of CG and IC flashes
Summary
Lightning is a natural phenomenon in which electrical discharges occur between two objects with different polarities. Modern lightning mapping systems have been designed to operate in different frequency bands ranging from extremely low frequency (ELF) to VHFs. VHF lightning mapping was traditionally performed using the time of arrival (TOA) technique [13], which was developed in Florida to achieve accurate 3D measurements for locating radio frequency (RF) radiation sources [14]–[16]. Kawasaki [27] attempted to provide a clear image and summary of the TOA lightning techniques compared to the ITF and how they are equivalent The study distinguished both systems from different perspectives on the basis of pulse radiation procedures linked to lightning discharges and their locations by discussing the principles of each system accurately. The combination of TOA/ITF is still in the development stage and is far from being applicable in real-time
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