Coordinated observations of optical lightning from space using the FORTE photodiode detector and CCD imager

Abstract

This paper presents an overview of the coordinated observation of optical lightning from space using the photodiode detector (PDD) and CCD-based imager known as the Lightning Location System (LLS) aboard the Fast On-Orbit Recording of Transient Events (FORTE) satellite. PDD/LLS coincidence statistics are presented and show that both the detected energy density and the detected peak irradiance of optical lightning events are proportional to the number of LLS pixels (pixel multiplicity) which are activated during the event. The inference is that LLS pixel multiplicity is more a function of the detected intensity and horizontal extent of the optical event rather than a direct indicator of the degree of scattering. PDD/LLS event coincidence is also used to improve upon traditional recurrence/clustering algorithms that discriminate against false LLS events due to energetic particles and glint. Energy density measurements of coincident events show that about 4% of the optical energy detected by the broadband PDD appears in the narrowband LLS. This is in general agreement with ground-based measurements and with assumptions incorporated into the design of current and planned CCD-imaging sensors. Copyright 2001 by the American Geophysical Union.