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Weather and Forecasting

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Editorial Type:
Article
Article Type:
Research Article

Where Is the Real Cloud-to-Ground Lightning Maximum in North America?

Martin J. Murphy1 and Ronald L. Holle2
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  • 1 Vaisala, Inc., Tucson Operations, Tucson, Arizona
  • | 2 Holle Meteorology and Photography, Oro Valley, Arizona
Print Publication:
01 Apr 2005
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1175/WAF844.1
Page(s):
125–133
Restricted access

Abstract

A local maximum in cloud-to-ground (CG) lightning flash density over northwestern Mexico as measured by the U.S. National Lightning Detection Network is examined in detail. Corrections are derived for the relative detection efficiency of the network in this region that is outside the perimeter of the sensors. The need to adjust the parameters of the signal normalization model used for the network is also documented. New propagation model parameters are employed to derive relative detection efficiency corrections for northwestern Mexico and these are then used to show that the actual CG flash density over the region significantly exceeds that observed in Florida, the area with the highest flash density within the perimeter of the network.

Corresponding author address: Martin Murphy, Vaisala Inc., Tucson Operations, 2705 E. Medina Rd., Tucson, AZ 85706-7155. Email: martin.murphy@vaisala.com

Abstract

A local maximum in cloud-to-ground (CG) lightning flash density over northwestern Mexico as measured by the U.S. National Lightning Detection Network is examined in detail. Corrections are derived for the relative detection efficiency of the network in this region that is outside the perimeter of the sensors. The need to adjust the parameters of the signal normalization model used for the network is also documented. New propagation model parameters are employed to derive relative detection efficiency corrections for northwestern Mexico and these are then used to show that the actual CG flash density over the region significantly exceeds that observed in Florida, the area with the highest flash density within the perimeter of the network.

Corresponding author address: Martin Murphy, Vaisala Inc., Tucson Operations, 2705 E. Medina Rd., Tucson, AZ 85706-7155. Email: martin.murphy@vaisala.com

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