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The Design and Evaluation of the Lighting Imaging Sensor Data Applications Display (LISDAD)The design and evaluation of the Lightning Imaging Sensor Data Applications Display (LISDAD). The ultimate goal of the LISDAD system is to quantify the utility of total lightning information in short-term, severe-weather forecasting operations. To this end, scientists from NASA, NWS, and MIT organized an effort to study the relationship of lightning and severe-weather on a storm-by-storm, and even cell-by-cell basis for as many storms as possible near Melbourne, Florida. Melbourne was chosen as it offers a unique combination of high probability of severe weather and proximity to major relevant sensors - specifically: NASA's total lightning mapping system at Kennedy Space Center (the LDAR system at KSC); a NWS/NEXRAD radar (at Melbourne); and a prototype Integrated Terminal Weather System (ITWS, at Orlando), which obtains cloud-to-ground lightning Information from the National Lightning Detection Network (NLDN), and also uses NSSL's Severe Storm Algorithm (NSSL/SSAP) to obtain information about various storm-cell parameters. To assist in realizing this project's goal, an interactive, real-time data processing system (the LISDAD system) has been developed that supports both operational short-term weather forecasting and post facto severe-storm research. Suggestions have been drawn from the operational users (NWS/Melbourne) in the design of the data display and its salient behavior. The initial concept for the users Graphical Situation Display (GSD) was simply to overlay radar data with lightning data, but as the association between rapid upward trends in the total lightning rate and severe weather became evident, the display was significantly redesigned. The focus changed to support the display of time series of storm-parameter data and the automatic recognition of cells that display rapid changes in the total-lightning flash rate. The latter is calculated by grouping discrete LDAR radiation sources into lightning flashes using a time-space association algorithm. Specifically, the GSD presents the user with the Composite Maximum Reflectivity obtained from the NWS/NEXRAD. Superimposed upon this background image are placed small black circles indicating the locations of storm cells identified by the NSSL/SSA. The circles become cyan if lightning is detected within the storm-cell; if the cell has lightning rates indicative of a severe-storm, the circle turns red. This paper will: (1) review the design of LISDAD system; (2) present some examples of its data display; and shown results of the lightning based severe-weather prediction algorithm.
Document ID
19990097320
Acquisition Source
Marshall Space Flight Center
Document Type
Preprint (Draft being sent to journal)
Authors
Boldi, B.
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL United States)
Hodanish, S.
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL United States)
Sharp, D.
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL United States)
Williams, E.
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL United States)
Goodman, Steven
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL United States)
Raghavan, R.
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL United States)
Matlin, A.
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL United States)
Weber, M.
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL United States)
Date Acquired
August 19, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1998
Subject Category
Meteorology And Climatology
Meeting Information
Meeting: Severe Local Storm
Location: Minneapolis, MN
Country: United States
Start Date: September 14, 1998
End Date: September 18, 1998
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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