The North American Lightning Detection Network (NALDN)—First Results: 1998–2000

Richard E. Orville Department of Atmospheric Sciences and Cooperative Institute for Applied Meteorological Studies, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas

Search for other papers by Richard E. Orville in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
Gary R. Huffines Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio

Search for other papers by Gary R. Huffines in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
William R. Burrows Meteorological Research Branch, Meteorological Service of Canada, Downsview, Ontario, Canada

Search for other papers by William R. Burrows in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
Ronald L. Holle Global Atmospherics, Inc., Tucson, Arizona

Search for other papers by Ronald L. Holle in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
, and
Kenneth L. Cummins Global Atmospherics, Inc., Tucson, Arizona

Search for other papers by Kenneth L. Cummins in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
Restricted access

Abstract

Cloud-to-ground lightning data have been analyzed for the years 1998–2000 for North America (Canada plus the contiguous United States) for all ground flashes, positive flashes, the percentage of positive lightning, peak currents for negative and positive lightning, and for negative and positive multiplicity. The authors examined a total of 88.7 million flashes divided among the three years: 31.1 million (1998), 29.5 million (1999), and 28.2 million (2000). Annual flash densities are derived from 245–424 km2 regions and are uncorrected for flash detection efficiency. The highest flash densities in Canada are along the U.S.–Canadian border (1–3 flashes km−2), and in the United States along the Gulf of Mexico coast and Florida (exceeding 9 flashes km−2). Maximum annual positive flash densities in Canada generally range primarily from 0.1 to 0.3 flashes km−2, and in the United States to over 0.7 flashes km−2 (areas in the Midwest, the Gulf Coast, and Florida). Areas of greater than 20% positive lightning occur throughout British Columbia and the midwest United States extending into Manitoba and Ontario. High percent positive also occurs in Quebec and much of eastern Canada. The median negative peak current is 16.5 kA. The median positive peak current, with the peak currents less than 10 kA removed from the calculation, is 19.8 kA. Median positive peak currents exceed 35 kA in the Midwest from west Texas to Nebraska to the Canadian border. The area of maximum mean negative multiplicity, exceeding 2.6 strokes, occurs in western Canada from just east of the British Columbia–Alberta border to and including Saskatchewan. Mean negative multiplicity also peaks in the southeastern United States. Mean positive multiplicity is observed to have maximum values in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and in a region centered on Tennessee. The authors examined the time of maximum flash rate in North America and find it is over land in the daytime hours with the exception of a region of maximum nighttime lightning in midcontinent that extends from the midwestern United States into Canada. Over the waters surrounding the North American continent, the maximum lightning is principally at night, including the coastal Pacific, the Gulf of California, the Gulf of Mexico, and the coastal waters of the North Atlantic.

Corresponding author address: Dr. Richard E. Orville, Department of Atmospheric Sciences, Texas A&M University, CIAMS, College Station, TX 77843-3150. Email: rorville@tamu.edu

Abstract

Cloud-to-ground lightning data have been analyzed for the years 1998–2000 for North America (Canada plus the contiguous United States) for all ground flashes, positive flashes, the percentage of positive lightning, peak currents for negative and positive lightning, and for negative and positive multiplicity. The authors examined a total of 88.7 million flashes divided among the three years: 31.1 million (1998), 29.5 million (1999), and 28.2 million (2000). Annual flash densities are derived from 245–424 km2 regions and are uncorrected for flash detection efficiency. The highest flash densities in Canada are along the U.S.–Canadian border (1–3 flashes km−2), and in the United States along the Gulf of Mexico coast and Florida (exceeding 9 flashes km−2). Maximum annual positive flash densities in Canada generally range primarily from 0.1 to 0.3 flashes km−2, and in the United States to over 0.7 flashes km−2 (areas in the Midwest, the Gulf Coast, and Florida). Areas of greater than 20% positive lightning occur throughout British Columbia and the midwest United States extending into Manitoba and Ontario. High percent positive also occurs in Quebec and much of eastern Canada. The median negative peak current is 16.5 kA. The median positive peak current, with the peak currents less than 10 kA removed from the calculation, is 19.8 kA. Median positive peak currents exceed 35 kA in the Midwest from west Texas to Nebraska to the Canadian border. The area of maximum mean negative multiplicity, exceeding 2.6 strokes, occurs in western Canada from just east of the British Columbia–Alberta border to and including Saskatchewan. Mean negative multiplicity also peaks in the southeastern United States. Mean positive multiplicity is observed to have maximum values in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and in a region centered on Tennessee. The authors examined the time of maximum flash rate in North America and find it is over land in the daytime hours with the exception of a region of maximum nighttime lightning in midcontinent that extends from the midwestern United States into Canada. Over the waters surrounding the North American continent, the maximum lightning is principally at night, including the coastal Pacific, the Gulf of California, the Gulf of Mexico, and the coastal waters of the North Atlantic.

Corresponding author address: Dr. Richard E. Orville, Department of Atmospheric Sciences, Texas A&M University, CIAMS, College Station, TX 77843-3150. Email: rorville@tamu.edu

Save
  • Beasley, W., 1985: Positive cloud-to-ground lightning observations. J. Geophys. Res., 90 ((D4),) 61316138.

  • Burrows, W. R., and P. King, 2000: Neuro-statistical models for predicting lightning occurrence in Canada: Climatology and potential predictors. Proc. 2000 Int. Lightning Detection Conf., Tucson, AZ, Global Atmospherics, Inc., Paper 15. [Available from Global Atmospherics, Inc., 2705 E. Medina, Tucson, AZ 85706.].

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Burrows, W. R., P. J. Lewis, B. Kochtubajda, B. Snyder, and V. Turcotte, 2002: Lightning occurrence patterns over Canada and adjacent United States from lightning detection network observations. Atmos.–Ocean,40, 59–80.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Cooray, V., 1997: Energy dissipation in lightning flashes. J. Geophys. Res., 102 ((D17),) 2140121410.

  • Cummins, K. L., M. J. Murphy, E. A. Bardo, W. L. Hiscox, R. B. Pyle, and A. E. Pifer, 1998: A combined TOA/MDF technology upgrade of the U.S. National Lightning Detection Network. J. Geophys. Res., 103 ((D8),) 90359044.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Cummins, K. L., R. B. Pyle, and G. Fournier, 1999: An integrated North American Lightning Detection Network. Proc. 11th Int. Conf. on Atmospheric Electricity, Guntersville, AL, NASA/CP-1999-209261, 218–221. [Available from NASA Center for AeroSpace Information, 800 Elkridge Landing Road, Linthicum Heights, MD 21090-2934.].

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Fosdick, E. K., and A. I. Watson, 1995: Cloud-to-ground lightning patterns in New Mexico during the summer. Natl. Wea. Dig., 19 , 1724.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Idone, V. P., D. A. Davis, P. K. Moore, Y. Wang, R. W. Henderson, M. Ries, and P. F. Jamason, 1998a: Performance evaluation of the U.S. National Lightning Detection Network in eastern New York. Part I: Detection efficiency. J. Geophys. Res., 103 ((D8),) 90459055.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Idone, V. P., . 1998b: Performance evaluation of the U.S. National Lightning Detection Network in eastern New York. Part II: Location accuracy. J. Geophys. Res., 103 ((D8),) 90579069.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Krider, E. P., C. Leteinturier, and J. C. Willett, 1996: Submicrosecond fields radiated during the onset of first return strokes in cloud-to-ground lightning. J. Geophys. Res., 101 ((D1),) 15891597.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • López, R. E., and R. L. Holle, 1986: Diurnal and spatial variability of lightning activity in northeastern Colorado and central Florida during the summer. Mon. Wea. Rev., 114 , 12881312.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Lyons, W. A., T. E. Nelson, E. R. Williams, J. Cramer, and T. Turner, 1998a: Enhanced positive cloud-to-ground lightning in thunderstorms ingesting smoke from fires. Science, 282 , 7781.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Lyons, W. A., M. Uliasz, and T. E. Nelson, 1998b: Large peak current cloud-to-ground lightning flashes during the summer months in the contiguous United States. Mon. Wea. Rev., 126 , 22172233.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Mackerras, D., and M. Darveniza, 1994: Latitudinal variation of lightning occurrence characteristics. J. Geophys. Res., 99 , 1081310821.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Murray, N. D., R. E. Orville, and G. R. Huffines, 2000: Effect of pollution from Central American fires on cloud-to-ground lightning. Geophys. Res. Lett., 27 , 22492252.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Orville, R. E., 1990: Lightning return stroke peak current variation as a function of latitude. Nature, 342 , 149151.

  • Orville, R. E., . 1991: Lightning ground flash density in the contiguous United States–1989. Mon. Wea. Rev., 119 , 573577.

  • Orville, R. E., . 1994: Cloud-to-ground lightning flash characteristics in the contiguous United States: 1989–1991. J. Geophys. Res., 99 ((D5),) 1083310841.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Orville, R. E., and A. C. Silver:, 1997: Lightning ground flash density in the contiguous United States: 1992–95. Mon. Wea. Rev., 125 , 631638.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Orville, R. E., and G. R. Huffines:, 1999: Lightning ground flash measurements over the contiguous United States: 1995–97. Mon. Wea. Rev., 127 , 26932703.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Orville, R. E., . 2001: Cloud-to-ground lightning in the USA: NLDN results in the first decade, 1989–98. Mon. Wea. Rev., 129 , 11791193.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Reap, R. M., 1986: Evaluation of cloud-to-ground data from the western United States for the 1983–84 summer seasons. J. Climate Appl. Meteor., 25 , 785799.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Tyahla, L. J., and R. E. López, 1994: Effect of surface conductivity on the peak magnetic field radiated by first return strokes in cloud-to-ground lightning. J. Geophys. Res., 99 ((D5),) 1051710525.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Wacker, R. S., and R. E. Orville, 1999a: Changes in measured lightning flash count and return stroke peak current after the 1994 U.S. National Lightning Detection Network upgrade. Part I: Observations. J. Geophys. Res., 104 ((D2),) 21512157.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Wacker, R. S., . 1999b: Changes in measured lightning flash count and return stroke peak current after the 1994 U.S. National Lightning Detection Network upgrade. Part II: Theory. J. Geophys. Res., 104 ((D2),) 21592162.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Zajac, B. A., and S. A. Rutledge, 2001: Cloud-to-ground lightning activity in the contiguous United States from 1995 to 1999. Mon. Wea. Rev., 129 , 9991019.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
All Time Past Year Past 30 Days
Abstract Views 0 0 0
Full Text Views 2618 1808 178
PDF Downloads 588 165 6