Instruments:
The ER-2 LIP consist of two electric field mills, a conductivity
probe, and the associated data system. The ER-2 electric field mills measure the vertical (Ez)
and one horizontal (Ex) components of the electric field
The field mills also provide a measurement of the electric charge (Q) on the
aircraft. Abrupt electric field changes are used to identify lightning
discharges and often cloud-to-ground and intracloud discharges can be
distinguished.
The conductivity probe provides a measure of the air conductivity at
the aircraft altitude. The conductivity probe consist of a pair of Gerdien
capacitor type sensors so that contributions due to positive and
negative ions are measured simultaneously.
Data Products:
- A. Electric field components (Ex and Ez)
and aircraft self-charge (Q)
- period: continuous record, entire flight
- resolution: 10 Hz sampling rate
- comments: Total lightning (cloud-to-ground,
intracloud) can be determined from electric field changes in the
data. Data will also provide information on the electrical structure
within
and around the thunderstorms and hurricanes encountered (often this
will
be the only means to assess the electrical state of the clouds
overflown).
The electric currents flowing above storms can be derived using the
electric
field and air conductivity measurements.
B. Air conductivity
- period: continuous record, entire flight
- resolution: 10 Hz sampling rate
- comments: Simultaneous measurements provided of
both polar components of the air conductivity (i.e., contributions
from
positive and negative ions). Storm electric currents can be derived
when
used with the electric field data.
Data Availability:
|
TRMM TEFLUN-A data from the
Lightning Instrument Package-Continuous(LIP-C) are now available from the Global Hydrology Resource Center
(GHRC) at NASA
Marshall Space Flight Center.
GHCC User Services
Office
Global Hydrology and Climate
Center
977 Explorer Blvd.
Huntsville, Alabama 35806
Phone: 256-922-5932
Fax: 256-922-5859
E-mail:
ghrc@eos.nasa.gov
Technical information Contacts:
Additional details on the LIP-C data
sets can be
obtained from the GHRC User Services Office (contact information
above),or from the LIP-C Investigators & Data Producers:
Richard J. Blakeslee
Global Hydrology and Climate
Center
NASA Marshall Space Flight Center
977 Explorer Blvd.
Huntsville, Alabama 35806
Phone: 256-922-5962
Fax: 256-922-5723
E-mail: rich.blakeslee@msfc.nasa.gov
or
Monte.Bateman
NASA Marshall Space Flight Center
Global Hydrology and Climate
Center
977 Explorer Blvd.
Huntsville, Alabama 35806
Phone: 256-922-5962
Fax: 256-922-5723
E-mail: Monte.Bateman@msfc.nasa.gov
|
|
