System and method of locating lightning strikes

US6420862B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration · US

Inventors

• Pedro J. Medelius · Merritt Island, US
• Stanley O. Starr · Indialantic, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Feb 13, 2001
• Grant date: Jul 16, 2002
• Expiry date: Feb 13, 2021

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01W1/16
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A system and method of determining locations of lightning strikes has been described. The system includes multiple receivers located around an area of interest, such as a space center or airport. Each receiver monitors both sound and electric fields. The detection of an electric field pulse and a sound wave are used to calculate an area around each receiver in which the lighting is detected. A processor is coupled to the receivers to accurately determine the location of the lighting strike. The processor can manipulate the receiver data to compensate for environmental variables such as wind, temperature, and humidity. Further, each receiver processor can discriminate between distant and local lightning strikes.