Storm Prediction Center Interest in Total Lightning Measurements

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Storm Prediction Center Interest in Total
Lightning Measurements
Current and potential future use of lightning data

• Dr. Russell SchneiderChief, SPC Science Support

SPoRT Total Lightning Workshop April 2004
AWhere Americas Weather and Climate Services
Begin_at_
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Outline

• Mission Vision
• SPC Products
• Current Lightning Uses
• Examples
• Potential
• Future Uses

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The Storm Prediction Center exists solely to
protect the life and property of the American
people through the issuance of timely, accurate
watch and forecast products dealing with
tornadoes and other hazardous mesoscale weather
phenomena.
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The Worldwide Epicenter of Tornado Activity
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Topeka, Kansas (8 June 1966)
F5 16 killed 406 injured
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Huntsville, Alabama (15 Nov. 1989)
F4 21 killed 463 injured
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SPC Mesoscale Discussions - Winter Wx.
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SPC Mesoscale Discussions - Heavy Rain
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SPC Fire Weather Outlooks
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Science Support Branch Mission To provide SPC
forecasters with exceptional cost-effective
computer systems, software, data, techniques and
knowledge for operations and science infusion.
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Current (NLDN) CG Lightning Uses

• First strike detection convective initiation
• Subjective measure of convective intensity
  trend
• Verification and validation of thunderstorms
• Detection of convection in regions of sparse
  radar coverage (esp. for Fire Weather)
• Polarity

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Radar Coverage Nationwide
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20 September 2002
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An Introduction toRelationships
BetweenLightning and Storms

• Don MacGorman
• NOAA/National Severe Storms Laboratory

Photo by B. Taylor
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Cloud Flashes

• Typically comprise 70-80 of lightning flashes in
  a storm
• Often gt90 in severe storms

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Tornado Outbreak - 3 May 1999
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3 May 1999
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3 May 1999
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3 May 1999
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Severe Weather and Lightning
Williams et al. (1999)
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A Supercell Storm Dominated by CG Flashes
5-Minute Flash Counts Plainfield, Illinois 8-28-90
MacGorman and Burgess (1994)
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Lightning (CG) Fire Starts
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Future use of Lightning Data

• Become more quantitative in our use of the full
  range of data
• Ability to track development evolution of total
  lightning within a field of thunderstorms
• Prediction of critical lightning characteristics
• Positive CG Strokes Fire Weather (house fires?)
• Forecasts of severe lightning events
• We need to learn more

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NWS Storm Prediction Center www.spc.noaa.gov