scholarly journals Lightning Activity Observed by the FengYun-4A Lightning Mapping Imager

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (15) ◽  
pp. 3013
Author(s):  
Dongjie Cao ◽  
Feng Lu ◽  
Xiaohu Zhang ◽  
Jing Yang
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Distribution ◽  
Detection Efficiency ◽  
Space Station ◽  
Temporal Variations ◽  
Western China ◽  
Pearl River Delta Region ◽  
Flash Duration ◽  
Lower South ◽  
Imaging Sensor ◽  
First Time

The Lightning Mapping Imager (LMI) onboard the geostationary meteorological satelliteFengYun-4A (FY-4A) detects both intra-cloud (IC) and cloud-to-ground (CG) lightning continuously during daytime and nighttime. This study examined, for the first time, the optical characteristics and distribution of the “Event,” “Group,” and “Flash” observed by the LMI in the whole LMI observation domain. The optical properties and spatial distribution of the LMI lightning were compared with those of the Lightning Imaging Sensor on the International Space Station (ISS-LIS) based on the dataset during 2018–2020. Due to the different spatial resolutions and detection efficiencies of these two lightning imagers, the number of ISS-LIS lightning was more than that of LMI lightning. The ISS-LIS Flash duration was also larger than that of the LMI Flash. The duration, radiance, and footprint of LMI lightning in different regions were analyzed in detail based on the LMI lightning dataset in 2019. The duration and radiance of the Flash were generally less than 50–500 ms and 200 Jm−2ster−1μm−1, respectively. The footprint of Flashes was distributed from 200 to 600 km2. The number of Groups per Flash was mostly less than five. Considering the spatial distribution and temporal variations in the LMI lightning compared with the ground-based Lightning Location Network in China (LLNC), it was found that the LMI Group number was close to the LLNC CG (Cloud-to-Ground) Event number. The maximum Flash density was found in the middle and lower south of the Yangtze River and Pearl River Delta region, respectively, while the lower values were in western China, where the mean radiance per Flash was greater. There was more LMI lightning during the nighttime than that during the daytime, indicating the higher detection efficiency of the LMI in the nighttime than in the daytime.

scholarly journals Concurrent satellite and ground-based lightning observations from the Optical Lightning Imaging Sensor (ISS-LIS), the low-frequency network Meteorage and the SAETTA Lightning Mapping Array (LMA) in the northwestern Mediterranean region

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 853-875 ◽  
Author(s):  
Felix Erdmann ◽  
Eric Defer ◽  
Olivier Caumont ◽  
Richard J. Blakeslee ◽  
Stéphane Pédeboy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mediterranean Sea ◽  
Detection Efficiency ◽  
Space Station ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Integration Time ◽  
Very High Frequency ◽  
Pixel Resolution ◽  
Mapping Array ◽  
Imaging Sensor ◽  
Northwestern Mediterranean

Abstract. The new space-based Lightning Imager (LI) onboard the Meteosat Third Generation (MTG) geostationary satellite will improve the observation of lightning over Europe, the Mediterranean Sea, Africa and the Atlantic Ocean from 2021 onwards. In preparation for the use of the upcoming MTG-LI data, we compare observations by the Lightning Imaging Sensor (LIS) on the International Space Station (ISS), which applies an optical technique similar to MTG-LI, to concurrent records of the low-frequency (LF) ground-based network Meteorage. Data were analyzed over the northwestern Mediterranean Sea from 1 March 2017 to 20 March 2018. Flashes are detected by ISS-LIS using illuminated pixels, also called events, within a given (2.0 ms) frame and during successive frames. Meteorage describes flashes as a suite of intra-cloud and cloud-to-cloud (IC) pulses and/or cloud-to-ground (CG) strokes. Both events as well as pulses and strokes are grouped to flashes using a novel in-house algorithm. In our study, ISS-LIS detects about 57 % of the flashes detected by Meteorage. The flash detection efficiency (DE) of Meteorage relative to ISS-LIS exceeds 80 %. Coincident matched flashes detected by the two instruments show a good spatial and temporal agreement. Both peak and mean distances between matches are smaller than the ISS-LIS pixel resolution (about 5.0 km). The timing offset for matched ISS-LIS and Meteorage flashes is usually shorter than the ISS-LIS integration time frame (2.0 ms). The closest events and the pulses and strokes of matched flashes achieve sub-millisecond offsets. Further analysis of flash characteristics reveals that longer-lasting and more spatially extended flashes are more likely detected by both ISS-LIS and Meteorage than shorter-duration and smaller-extent flashes. The ISS-LIS relative DE is lower for daytime versus nighttime as well as for CG versus IC flashes. A second ground-based network, the very high-frequency (VHF) SAETTA Lightning Mapping Array (LMA), further enhances and validates the lightning pairing between ISS-LIS and Meteorage. It also provides altitude information on the lightning discharges and adds a detailed lightning mapping to the comparison for verification and better understanding of the processes. Both ISS-LIS and Meteorage flash detections feature a high degree of correlation with the SAETTA observations (without altitude information). In addition, Meteorage flashes with ISS-LIS match tend to be associated with discharges that occur at significantly higher altitudes than unmatched flashes. Hence, ISS-LIS flash detection suffers from degradation, with low-level flashes resulting in lower DE.

scholarly journals Comparing lightning observations of the ground-based European lightning location system EUCLID and the space-based Lightning Imaging Sensor (LIS) on the International Space Station (ISS)

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 2965-2977
Author(s):  
Dieter R. Poelman ◽  
Wolfgang Schulz
Keyword(s):  
International Space Station ◽  
Scattered Light ◽  
Space Station ◽  
The Other ◽  
Sensor Technology ◽  
Flash Duration ◽  
International Space ◽  
Lightning Detection ◽  
Imaging Sensor ◽  
Full Domain

Abstract. The Lightning Imaging Sensor (LIS) on the International Space Station (ISS), hereafter referred to as ISS-LIS, detects lightning from space by capturing the optical scattered light emitted from the top of the clouds. The ground-based European Cooperation for Lightning Detection (EUCLID) makes use of the low-frequency electromagnetic signals generated by lightning discharges to locate them accordingly. The objective of this work is to quantify the similarities and contrasts between these two distinct lightning detection technologies by comparing the EUCLID cloud-to-ground strokes and intracloud pulses to the ISS-LIS groups in addition to the correlation at the flash level. The analysis is based on the observations made between 1 March 2017 and 31 March 2019 within the EUCLID network and limited to 54∘ north. A Bayesian approach is adopted to determine the relative and absolute detection efficiencies (DEs) of each system. It is found that the EUCLID relative and absolute flash DE improves by approximately 10 % towards the center of the EUCLID network up to a value of 56.3 % and 69.0 %, respectively, compared to the averaged value over the full domain, inherent to the network geometry and sensor technology. In contrast, the relative and absolute ISS-LIS flash DE over the full domain is 48.4 % and 71.3 %, respectively, and is somewhat higher than the values obtained in the center of the EUCLID network. The behavior of the relative DE of each system in terms of the flash characteristics of the other reveals that the greater the value, the more likely the other system will detect the flash. For instance, when the ISS-LIS flash duration is smaller than or equal to 200 ms, the EUCLID relative flash DE drops below 50 %, whereas it increases up to 80 % for ISS-LIS flashes with a duration longer than 750 ms. Finally, the distribution of the diurnal DE indicates a higher DE for the ISS-LIS and a lower DE for EUCLID at night.

scholarly journals Concurrent Satellite and ground-based Lightning Observations from the Optical Lightning Imaging Sensor (ISS-LIS), the LF network Meteorage and the SAETTA LMA in the northwestern Mediterranean region

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Felix Erdmann ◽  
Eric Defer ◽  
Olivier Caumont ◽  
Richard J. Blakeslee ◽  
Stéphane Pédeboy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mediterranean Sea ◽  
Detection Efficiency ◽  
Space Station ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Time Frame ◽  
Integration Time ◽  
Very High Frequency ◽  
Pixel Resolution ◽  
Imaging Sensor ◽  
Northwestern Mediterranean

Abstract. The new space-based Lightning Imager (LI) on board the Meteosat Third Generation (MTG) geostationary satellite will improve the observation of lightning over Europe, the Mediterranean Sea, Africa and the Atlantic Ocean from 2021 onwards. In preparation of the use of the upcoming MTG-LI data, we compare observations by the Lightning Imaging Sensor (LIS) on the International Space Station (ISS), which applies an optical technique similar to MTG-LI, to concurrent records of the Low Frequency (LF) ground-based network Meteorage. Data were analyzed over the northwestern Mediterranean Sea from March 01, 2017 to March 20, 2018. Flashes are detected by ISS-LIS using illuminated pixels, also called events, within a given (2.0 ms) frame and during successive frames. Meteorage describes flashes as a suite of Intra-Cloud/cloud-to-cloud (IC) pulses and/or Cloud-to-Ground (CG) strokes. Both events and pulses/strokes are grouped to flashes using a novel in-house algorithm. In our study, ISS-LIS detects about 57 % of the flashes detected by Meteorage. The flash detection efficiency (DE) of Meteorage relative to ISS-LIS exceeds 80 %. Coincident matched flashes detected by the two instruments show a good spatial and temporal agreement. Both peak and mean distance between matches are smaller than the ISS-LIS pixel resolution (about 5.0 km). The timing offset for matched ISS-LIS and Meteorage flashes is usually shorter than the ISS-LIS integration time frame (2.0 ms). The closest events and pulses/strokes of matched flashes achieve sub-millisecond offsets. Further analysis of flash characteristics reveals that longer lasting and more spatially extended flashes are more likely detected by both ISS-LIS and Meteorage than shorter duration and smaller extent flashes. ISS-LIS' relative DE is lower for daytime versus nighttime as well as for CG versus IC flashes. A second ground-based network, the Very High Frequency (VHF) SAETTA Lightning Mapping Array (LMA), further enhances and validates the lightning pairing between ISS-LIS and Meteorage. It also provides altitude information of the lightning discharges and adds a detailed lightning mapping to the comparison for verification and better understanding of the processes. Both ISS-LIS and Meteorage flash detections feature a high degree of correlation with the SAETTA observations (without altitude information). In addition, Meteorage flashes with ISS-LIS match tend to be associated with discharges that occur at significantly higher altitudes than unmatched flashes. Hence, ISS-LIS flash detection suffers degradation with low-level flashes resulting in lower DE.

scholarly journals Hydrostatic Densitometer for Monitoring Density in Freshwater to Hypersaline Water Bodies

Water ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (13) ◽  
pp. 1842
Author(s):  
Ziv Mor ◽  
Hallel Lutzky ◽  
Eyal Shalev ◽  
Nadav G. Lensky
Keyword(s):  
Continuous Monitoring ◽  
Pressure Sensors ◽  
Temporal Variations ◽  
Dead Sea ◽  
Conductivity Measurements ◽  
Lake Levels ◽  
Density Profiles ◽  
Water Column Stratification ◽  
Hypersaline Water ◽  
First Time

Density, temperature, salinity, and hydraulic head are physical scalars governing the dynamics of aquatic systems. In coastal aquifers, lakes, and oceans, salinity is measured with conductivity sensors, temperature is measured with thermistors, and density is calculated. However, in hypersaline brines, the salinity (and density) cannot be determined by conductivity measurements due to its high ionic strength. Here, we resolve density measurements using a hydrostatic densitometer as a function of an array of pressure sensors and hydrostatic relations. This system was tested in the laboratory and was applied in the Dead Sea and adjacent aquifer. In the field, we measured temporal variations of vertical profiles of density and temperature in two cases, where water density varied vertically from 1.0 × 103 kg·m−3 to 1.24 × 103 kg·m−3: (i) a borehole in the coastal aquifer, and (ii) an offshore buoy in a region with a diluted plume. The density profile in the borehole evolved with time, responding to the lowering of groundwater and lake levels; that in the lake demonstrated the dynamics of water-column stratification under the influence of freshwater discharge and atmospheric forcing. This method allowed, for the first time, continuous monitoring of density profiles in hypersaline bodies, and it captured the dynamics of density and temperature stratification.

scholarly journals Host density predicts the probability of parasitism by avian brood parasites

2019 ◽  
Vol 374 (1769) ◽  
pp. 20180204 ◽  
Author(s):  
Iliana Medina ◽  
Naomi E. Langmore
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Distribution ◽  
Reproductive Success ◽  
Host Species ◽  
Field Data ◽  
Host Density ◽  
Brood Parasites ◽  
Parasitism Rates ◽  
Analyse Data ◽  
First Time ◽  
Determining Factor

The spatial distribution of hosts can be a determining factor in the reproductive success of parasites. Highly aggregated hosts may offer more opportunities for reproduction but can have better defences than isolated hosts. Here we connect macro- and micro-evolutionary processes to understand the link between host density and parasitism, using avian brood parasites as a model system. We analyse data across more than 200 host species using phylogenetic comparative analyses and quantify parasitism rate and host reproductive success in relation to spatial distribution using field data collected on one host species over 6 years. Our comparative analysis reveals that hosts occurring at intermediate densities are more likely to be parasitized than colonial or widely dispersed hosts. Correspondingly, our intraspecific field data show that individuals living at moderate densities experience higher parasitism rates than individuals at either low or high densities. Moreover, we show for the first time that the effect of host density on host reproductive success varies according to the intensity of parasitism; hosts have greater reproductive success when living at high densities if parasitism rates are high, but fare better at low densities when parasitism rates are low. We provide the first evidence of the trade-off between host density and parasitism at both macro- and micro-evolutionary scales in brood parasites. This article is part of the theme issue ‘The coevolutionary biology of brood parasitism: from mechanism to pattern’.

scholarly journals Three years of the Lightning Imaging Sensor onboard the International Space Station: Expanded Global Coverage and Enhanced Applications

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Timothy J Lang ◽  
Richard Blakeslee ◽  
William J. Koshak ◽  
Dennis E. Buechler ◽  
Patrick Gatlin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
International Space Station ◽  
Space Station ◽  
International Space ◽  
Global Coverage ◽  
Imaging Sensor

Taxonomic review of the Sinopoda okinawana-group (Araneae: Sparassidae) in China

Zootaxa ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 4388 (3) ◽  
pp. 328 ◽  
Author(s):  
YANG ZHONG ◽  
PETER JÄGER ◽  
JIAN CHEN ◽  
JIE LIU
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Current Paper ◽  
Western China ◽  
Taxonomic Review ◽  
First Time ◽  
One New Species

Five Sinopoda species in the okinawana-group including one new species from central and south-western China are treated in the current paper: S. cochlearia Zhang, Zhang & Zhang, 2015, S. fasciculata Jäger, Gao & Fei, 2002, S. guangyuanensis sp. nov., S. hamata (Fox, 1937) and S. wangi Song & Zhu, 1999. The female of S. fasciculata is described for the first time. New province records are provided as well as photos of copulatory organs and habitus. 

scholarly journals Impact of VOCs on the formation of ozone in a central China city during severe pollution periods

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bowei Li ◽  
Steven Sai Hang Ho ◽  
Sunling Gong ◽  
Jingwei Ni ◽  
Huairui Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Temporal Variations ◽  
Central China ◽  
Compressed Natural Gas ◽  
Pmf Model ◽  
Sampling Campaign ◽  
Time Period ◽  
Ozone Formation Potential ◽  
Range Transport ◽  
Volatile Organic ◽  
First Time

Abstract. In this work, a five-month sampling campaign was conducted for volatile organic compounds (VOCs) for the first time in Zhengzhou City, Henan province, China, where ozone (O3) pollution has shown an increasing trend in recent years. Fifty-seven VOCs defined by the Photochemical Assessment Monitoring Stations (PAMS) were sampled using canister method. Meanwhile, other O3 precursor gases were monitored online at four different sites between the time period of May–September, 2017. The results indicated that the average mixing ratio of ΣPAMS (31.57 ± 23.35 ppbv) in Zhengzhou was lower than the other megacities in China, while alkyne was in a significantly higher proportion. The abundances, compositions and ratios of PAMS showed strong spatial and temporal variations. Alkenes were the largest contributors to the ozone formation potential (OFP). On clear days, higher O3 levels were often accompanied with high ΣPAMS/NOx ratio at each site, demonstrating that the VOCs were more sensitive during the O3 formation period in Zhengzhou. Furthermore, source apportionmemt was conducted with Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) model, and it was found that the use of compressed natural gas (CNG), the evaporation of gasoline and the exhaust from vehicles were the important sources for ambient VOCs at all four sites. Besides, the meterological conditions and long-range transport from other surrounding provinces also had an impact on the air quality determined using the cluster analysis. It is worth mentioning that the reduction in VOCs' emissions is necessary to suppress the O3 pollution.

scholarly journals Correspondence between the ULF wave power spatial distribution and auroral oval boundaries

2016 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 46-65 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ольга Козырева ◽  
Olga Kozyreva ◽  
Вячеслав Пилипенко ◽  
Vyacheslav Pilipenko ◽  
Марк Энгебретсон ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Distribution ◽  
Spectral Power ◽  
Recovery Phase ◽  
Temporal Variations ◽  
Auroral Oval ◽  
Wave Power ◽  
Observational Result ◽  
Equatorward Boundary ◽  
Image Satellite ◽  
Magnetospheric Field

The world-wide spatial distribution of the wave power in the Pc5 band during magnetic storms has been compared with auroral oval boundaries. The poleward and equatorward auroral oval boundaries are estimated using either the British Antarctic Survey database containing IMAGE satellite UV observations of the aurora or the OVATION model based on the DMSP particle data. The “epicenter” of the spectral power of broadband Pc5 fluctuations during the storm growth phase is mapped inside the auroral oval. During the storm recovery phase, the spectral power of narrowband Pc5 waves, both in the dawn and dusk sectors, is mapped inside the auroral oval or around its equatorward boundary. This observational result confirms previously reported effects: the spatial/temporal variations of the Pc5 wave power in the morning/pre-noon sector are closely related to the dynamics of the auroral electrojet and magnetospheric field-aligned currents. At the same time, narrowband Pc5 waves demonstrate typical resonant features in the amplitude-phase latitudinal structure. Thus, the location of the auroral oval or its equatorward boundary is the preferred latitude for magnetospheric field-line Alfven resonator excitation. This effect is not taken into account by modern theories of ULF Pc5 waves, but it could be significant for the development of more adequate models.

scholarly journals Hydrochemical Characteristics of the Surgut Reservoir Water Area Littoral Sections

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Distribution ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Thermal Power ◽  
Water Area ◽  
The Other ◽  
Anthropogenic Pressure ◽  
Taiga Zone ◽  
Thermal Power Plants ◽  
Reservoir Water ◽  
First Time

Cooling reservoirs of thermal power plants represent the special class of natural/ engineering systems with, on the one hand, natural geo/systems as one subsystem and, on the other hand, production/technological units as the other subsystem. Studying of these ecosystems’ functioning regularities seems to be helpful for water quality management and rational organization of water use. Besides, it is topical due to the low level of the relevant knowledge in the North of the Western Siberia. The authors for the first time in the Middle Ob Region have carried out a two-year session of monitoring of hydro/chemical indicators and temperature regime of the thermal power plants cooling reservoirs in the riparian stripe of water area. All previous investigations were done only by industrial water users within the frameworks of production monitoring in terms of three indicators in three points of the cooling reservoir water area downstream the power plant dam. Spatial distribution of concentrations of biogenic ions, salt composition, pH, organic matter, and metals in specific natural/technological system of the Surgut hthermal power plants’ reservoirs has been analyzed for the first time for the conditions of the Western Siberian taiga zone. Sources of anthropogenic pressure upon a water body have been identified. According the results of the indicators’ spatial distribution analysis three sections of the Surgut reservoir water area have been separated: a background section of the Chernaya River; a section upstream the dam with predominantly recreational character of the anthropogenic pressure; and a sectio0n downstream the dam with anthropogenic pressure of technological origin. According the outcomes of the correlation analysis indicators of the anthropogenic pressure character have been reveald.

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