Comparison of ground-based lightning detection network data with WRF-Elec forecasting estimates over India – Initial results

ABSTRACT

Prediction of lightning strikes has become an important area of research since it can help mitigate the damages to life and property happening on a wide scale over the Indian subcontinent. A long-range Lightning Detection Sensor Network (LDSN) has been established under the National Information System for Climate and Environment Studies programme of the National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC), Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO). The observation data have been compared with the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF)-Elec module, which simulates the lightning occurrences over the Indian region. The forecasting results are compared with the LDSN data for January–December 2022. We noted a good agreement in the spatial distribution of lightning occurrences estimated with the help of WRF-Elec module and the LDSN observations. The present study elaborates these findings with probability of detection varying from 0.6 to 0.9 during the study period.

KEYWORDS:

• Lightning
• WRF
• Climate
• POD

Acknowledgments

The NRSC-LDS network is funded through the National Information System for Climate and Environment Studies programme of NRSC, Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), Department of Space, India. The support of Chief General Manager, RC’s, NRSC; Dr G. Sreenivasan, DGM, RC-Central; Dr Chirinjivi Jayaram (RC-East) and Dr S. Rama Subramoniam (RC-South) in establishing and maintaining various LDS nodes is duly acknowledged. The authors acknowledge the help received from Mr Mallikarjun of Earth & Climate Sciences Area (ECSA), NRSC, for day-to-day maintenance of LDSN data and Mr J. Sairamakrishna and Mr Arul Raj of BWSD, NRSC, for hosting the LDSN data on the BHUVAN portal. We thank Team ICID/DPA (NRSC) for providing the computational facilities for running the model. We also acknowledge the help received from Jatinder Pal Singh of Dhruva Technology, New Delhi, and Robert Boll of Boltek Inc., Canada, for providing unstinting support towards the NRSC-LDSN.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Author contributions

D.V.: WRF-Elec model installation and daily forecasting runs; A.T.: Project design and implementation, generation of idea and drafting the manuscript; A.S.: network management, troubleshooting and analysis; K.S.R.: WRF model parameterization and simulations; M.H.M.K.: initial WRF parameterization; R.V.B.: draft correction and overall management support; P.C.: critical suggestions on the LDSN project and management support.

Consent for publication

The authors confirm that the study is original and abides within the regulations for publication.

Data availability statement

The NRSC Lightning Detection Sensor Network data are hosted on https://ndem.nrsc.gov.in/meteorological_lightiningecv.php and https://bhuvan-app1.nrsc.gov.in/lightning/ with a lag of 1 day. The data are being achieved at the same server and can be downloaded. The data utilized are also attached as supporting files. Alternatively, data can also be requested through email to the corresponding author.

Ethical approval

The publication follows all the scientific ethics and appropriate approvals.