Gary Archibald, Weathercaster

And now for the third part of my ongoing series of weather devices and instrumentation. Aropos, considering that May is a highly active month for severe weather in the form of thunderstorms, I introduce you, my friends, to lightning detectors.

A lightning detector is a device that detects lightning produced by thunderstorms. There are three primary types of detectors: ground-based systems using multiple antennas, mobile systems using a direction and a sense antenna in the same location (often aboard an aircraft), and space-based systems.

Ground-based and mobile detectors calculate the direction and severity of lightning from the current location using radio direction-finding techniques together with an analysis of the characteristic frequencies emitted by lightning. Ground-based systems use triangulation from multiple locations to determine distance, while mobile systems estimate distance using signal frequency and attenuation. Space-based lighting detectors, on artificial satellites, can locate range, bearing and intensities by direct observation.

A lightning prediction and warning system at C.B. Smith Park in Pembroke Pines, Fla.

Ground-based lightning detector networks are used by meteorological services like the National Weather Service in United States and the Meteorological Service of Canada, and by other organizations like electrical utilities and forest fire prevention services.

Remember – such detectors are not toys and should be handled by trained weather professionals under conditions of the greatest precautionary safety measures.

Next up in the series: a device used to measure humidity! Stay tuned and thanks for dropping by.

Cheers!

Gary