The Limiting Accuracy of Long Wavelength Lightning Flash Location

Abstract

Abstract Many recently developed systems for lightning flash location use frequencies of hundreds of kHz or higher to achieve enhanced precision, although this reduces potential range. However, for coherent systems operating at high signal-to-noise ratios VLF observing frequencies can reduce the target to a “point image” with typical horizontal dimensions of 10 m or less, potentially reducing relative location errors. Absolute location errors are larger, but may be below 1 km for a well calibrated system. Thus there is no fundamental conflict between potential aims of precision in flash location and long range. A typographical error in Lin et al.'s description of their lightning return stroke model is reported.