Lightning detection in Spain: The particular case of Catalonia

Abstract

This chapter reviews the lightning detection in Spain. It focuses on the region of Catalonia (NE Spain), which has the particularity of being covered by two different lightning detection systems. Since 1992, the Spanish Lightning Detection Network provides the location and characteristics of the cloud-to-ground lightning activity for the whole country. In 2003, an interferometric detection system was installed in Catalonia, providing total lightning data for this region. The performance of this system was evaluated using experimental field measurements. Afterwards, the chapter summarizes some aspects of the lightning climatology in Spain and Catalonia. Finally, in the particular case of Catalonia, other aspects are reviewed, like the convective precipitation and the lightning relationship, and the total lightning activity in hail episodes. © Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2009.