Preprint Article Version 1 Preserved in Portico This version is not peer-reviewed

Characteristics of the Blitzortung.org Lightning Location Catalog in Japan

Version 1 : Received: 19 August 2023 / Approved: 21 August 2023 / Online: 21 August 2023 (16:09:12 CEST)

A peer-reviewed article of this Preprint also exists.

Kamogawa, M.; Suzuki, T.; Fujiwara, H.; Narita, T.; Wanke, E.; Murata, K.; Nagao, T.; Kodama, T.; Izutsu, J.; Matsuki, A.; Tang, N.; Minamoto, Y. Characteristics of the Blitzortung.org Lightning Location Catalog in Japan. Atmosphere 2023, 14, 1507. Kamogawa, M.; Suzuki, T.; Fujiwara, H.; Narita, T.; Wanke, E.; Murata, K.; Nagao, T.; Kodama, T.; Izutsu, J.; Matsuki, A.; Tang, N.; Minamoto, Y. Characteristics of the Blitzortung.org Lightning Location Catalog in Japan. Atmosphere 2023, 14, 1507.

Abstract

We evaluated the detection efficiency and location accuracy of lightning discharges in Japan using Blitzortung.org, a volunteer-based network for locating lightning discharges from sferics measured by VLF electromagnetic receivers that have been deployed worldwide in recent years. A comparison of the flash rate (the detected lightning rate per area and period) from Blitzortung.org with that from the satellite-based OTD/LIS and the ground-based World Wide Lightning Location Network (WWLLN) observations showed that Blitzortung.org clearly observed intense lightning activity in and around the Kanto area, including Tokyo, in summer, which is typical of Japanese lightning activity. However, it did not clearly observe lightning activity in and around the Nansei Islands, including Okinawa. Conversely, Blitzortung.org observed winter lightning activity in the Hokuriku area and off the Kanto. In addition, event studies have compared the detection efficiency and location accuracy of Blitzortung.org with those of the Japanese Lightning Location Network (JLDN) to infer their absolute values. The latest detection efficiency of Blitzortung.org in the Kanto area was estimated at roughly 90%. The mean location accuracy was estimated at up to 5.6 km.

Keywords

lightning; VLF/LF; Blitzortung.org; flash rate; detection efficiency; location accuracy

Subject

Environmental and Earth Sciences, Atmospheric Science and Meteorology

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