Tools for validation of the Lightning Imager sensor on the 3rd generation of the METEOSAT weather satellite

Abstract

The 3rd generation of the METEOSAT (MTG) will be equipped with a lightning imager sensor (LI) to detect and locate lightning flashes. The field-of-view of the LI-MTG will cover Europe and Africa. Since the LI-MTG will observe optical emissions from lightning from cloud tops, it will be able to provide total lightning activity in thunderstorms including intra-cloud and cloud-to-ground. At ground, the unique system that detects total lightning with high efficiency is the Lightning Mapping Array (LMA). The UPC Lightning Research Group operates the Ebro LMA network at the Delta de l’Ebre area. This network will be used to validate the MTG LI performance when it will be in operation. To do that, the UPC LRG group has recently compared the ISS-LIS imager sensor on the International Space Station and the needs have been defined. The aim of this project is to follow the comparison between the ISS-LIS imager and LMA to define the needs for LI-MGT. To do that, data from the Geostationary Lightning Mapper (GLM) will be compared with the Colombia LMA at Barrancabermeja, as both LI-MGT and GLM are geostationary satellites. With the results obtained the bases for the final validation tool of MTG LI will be set and also will be reached a better understanding of the data gathered by a lightning detection system on board of a geostationary satellite.