Modern lightning location networks: global and regional aspects

Abstract

Monitoring storm activity and interpreting field measurements
with consideration of regional characteristics are essential for accurate
parameterization of electrical activity in climate models and high-resolution
weather forecasting models. Particularly, lightning location networks are one of the
most crucial tools used in analyzing extreme meteorological events characterized
by significant electrical activity. Currently, various methods of natural storm
observations are widely used: satellite optical mapping of discharges and groundbased
storm tracking.
This article presents an analysis of the performance of regional lightning
detection networks and the recording of individual intense storm events illustrated
by the observation results of the multi-point lightning detection network NNLDN
(Nizhny Novgorod Lightning Detection Network), developed at the Institute of
Applied Physics of the Russian Academy of Sciences. The NNLDN registers
electromagnetic emissions from nearby and distant storms in the 10-100 kHz range.
The study primarily focuses on analysis within the Nizhny Novgorod region
of the NNLDN observations with regional coverage (100-300 km) and the
WWLLN (World Wide Lightning Location Network) with global coverage. A
qualitative match of thunderstorm risk maps for 2022 is presented, with a greater
number of lightning discharges registered by NNLDN. Long-term storm statistics
in the region for 2015-2022 were examined. The main regional characteristics of
storm activity within the region were identified, in particular, the directions of
storm arrival and the locations of the most and least thunderstorm-prone areas in
the Nizhny Novgorod region.