JpGU-AGU Joint Meeting 2020

Presentation information

[J] Poster

M (Multidisciplinary and Interdisciplinary) » M-IS Intersection

[M-IS20] Atmospheric Electricity: Lightning discharges and related physical phenomena

convener:Yasuhide Hobara(Graduate School of Information and Engineering Department of Communication Engineering and Informatics, The University of Electro-Communications)

[MIS20-P03] Study on the time development of lightning and precipitation activities by LLS and radar observations

*Takeshi Morimoto1, Keichiro Boda1, Yoshitaka Nakamura2, Hideo Sakai3, Masahito Shimizu4 (1.Kindai University, 2.Kobe City College of Technology, 3.University of Toyama, 4.Chubu Electric Power Co. Inc.)

Keywords:Linghtning, Radar Observations, thunderstorm

The lightning and precipitation activities are studied in this paper by Ku-band broadband radar (Ku radar) and Lightning Location System (LLS) observations. The authors have been conducting cooperative lightning observations in Toyama, Japan, in where winter thunderstorm are developed. This paper focuses on the time development of thunderstorm activities.

Ku radar is a low-power high-resolution Doppler radar for meteorological applications. Ku radar employs bi-static system which is composed of a pair of Luneberg Lens Antenna, and solid state amplifier which transmits the wideband signal (80 MHz) in Ku-band. The pulse compression technique, which has the advantage that high range resolution profiles can be acquired by low transmitting power, is applied. Observation time resolution for a full volume scanning and range resolution less than 1 minute and 2.5 m are realized with Ku radar, respectively.

LLS is a passive remote sensing system locating impulsive lightning EM radiation sources associated with lightning return strokes. LLS brings locations and the estimated values of stroke currents.

The comprehensive studies of these observations for the locally and quickly developed thunderstorms indicate the below:

The time development of the peak value, and the top and the most active height of the radar echo are similar with each other.

Most lightning return strokes are located where strong radar echo is noticeable at high altitude.