A Combined IR-GPS Satellite Analysis for Potential Applications in Detecting and Predicting Lightning Activity

Remote Sensing

Luigi Pazienza¹  Alessandra Tiberia¹  Stefano Dietrich¹  LeoPio D’Adderio¹  Alessandra Mascitelli² 

[1] CNR-ISAC, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Roma, Via del Fosso del Cavaliere 100, 00133 Roma, Italy;Sapienza Università di Roma, DICEA, Via Eudossiana 18, 00184 Roma, Italy;

关键词: lightning;    convection;    radiometer;    gps;    brightness temperature;    zenith total delay;    precipitable water vapor;   

DOI  :  10.3390/rs12061031

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Continuous estimates of the vertical integrated precipitable water vapor content from the tropospheric delay of the signal received by the antennas of the global positioning system (GPS) are used in this paper, in conjunction with the measurements of the Meteosat Second Generation (MSG) spinning enhanced visible and infrared imager (SEVIRI) radiometer and with the lightning activity, collected here by the ground-based lightning detection network (LINET), in order to identify links and recurrent patterns useful for improving nowcasting applications. The analysis of a couple of events is shown here as an example of more general behavior. Clear signs appear before the peak of lightning activity on a timescale from 2 to 3 h. In particular, the lightning activity is generally preceded by a period in which the difference between SEVIRI brightness temperature (TB) at channel 5 and channel 6 (i.e., ∆TB) presents quite constant values around 0 K. This trend is accompanied by an increase in precipitable water vapor (PWV) values, reaching a maximum in conjunction with the major flash activity. The results shown in this paper evidence good potentials of using radiometer and GPS measurements together for predicting the abrupt intensification of lightning activity in nowcasting systems.

【 授权许可】

Unknown