Lightning Instrument Package-Continuous(LIP-C)

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 (E_z) and one horizontal (E_x) 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 (E_x and E_z) 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.

TRMM TEFLUN-B/CAMEX-3 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

Page Author: Hydrology Data Support Team -- hydrology-disc@listserv.gsfc.nasa.gov Web Curator: -- Website Curator: Anthony Drake NASA official: Steve Kempler, DISC Manager -- kempler@disc.gsfc.nasa.gov