全球闪电定位网络

全球闪电定位网络
World Wide Lightning Location Network

## WWLLN：全球闪电追踪世界范围闪电定位网络（WWLLN），由华盛顿大学运营，是一个由超低频无线电传感器组成的全球网络，用于追踪闪电。通过检测闪电发出的“射电球”（sferics）——无线电波，WWLLN创建了全球闪电活动地图。该网络依赖于合作托管；机构提供计算机和本地支持，以换取访问所有收集数据的权限。然而，准确的定位需要来自*至少*五个传感器的数据，这些传感器通常相隔数千公里，并战略性地分布在全球各地。目前拥有超过70个传感器，WWLLN的目标是大约500个，以实现最佳的1000公里间隔，但即使在目前的覆盖范围内也能有效运行。自2004年以来，数据可供研究（每10分钟）或实时应用使用，通过商业转售商获取。WWLLN欢迎新的托管机构来扩大其覆盖范围并改善全球闪电探测。

## 全球闪电定位网络讨论一个Hacker News讨论，围绕着**全球闪电定位网络 (WWLLN)** 以及相关的闪电追踪项目。用户分享了**Blitzortung.org**的信息，这是一个利用现成硬件进行精确闪电探测的类似项目，以及**Lightningmaps.org**，它可视化这些网络的数据。对话深入探讨了闪电探测的技术方面，包括使用短波电台收听闪电，以及试验磁力计。多位用户强调了获取原始数据和天气信息API相关的挑战和成本，同时也注意到通过像**Open-Meteo**这样的项目，来自ECMWF的免费数据日益可用。讨论还涉及了可视化之外的潜在应用，例如导航和校验GPS数据，并提到了历史上的双曲线导航系统如OMEGA，以及现代替代方案如eLoran。最后，用户询问了定位精度的准确性，研究表明闪电可以被定位在5公里范围内，但原始位置精度可以达到10米。线程中分享了地图和更多信息的链接。

About WWLLN

The World Wide Lightning Location Network (WWLLN - pronounced 'woollen'), is a network of very low frequency (VLF) radio lightning sensors operated by the University of Washington in Seattle. Most ground-based observations in the 3 - 30 kHz VLF band are dominated by impulsive signals from lightning discharges called “sferics”. Significant radiated electromagnetic power exists from a few hertz to several hundred megahertz, with the bulk of the energy radiated at VLF. With our world wide network of lightning sensors, we are producing regular maps of lightning activity over the entire Earth.

How it works

We welcome offers of hosting a new WWLLN lightning sensor. All hosts receive all the world-wide data for their own research. In return, each host provides the computer and meets any local expenses like power, Internet, and maintenance. However, do not think that a sensor on your own campus is going to give you lightning location data on its own. Only the whole network does that.

"Please contact us if you are interested in hosting a WWLLN lightning sensor."

Each lightning stroke location requires the time of group arrival (TOGA) from a least 5 WWLLN sensors. These sensors may be several thousand km distant from the stroke. The geographical arrangement of the sensors is important: a lightning stroke which is enclosed by sensors is much more accurately located than one which is not so enclosed. Clearly a uniform spacing of sensors around the Earth is the ideal. Since the Earth is round, there are no edges: every lightning stroke is surrounded by sensors, but not necessarily by the sensors which sense it. Typically only about 15 to 30% of strokes detected by one sensor are detected by 5 or more. These strokes are usually the stronger ones. Recent research indicates our detection efficiency for strokes about 30 kA is approximately 30% globally.

To cover the whole world by sensors spaced uniformly about 1000 km apart would require roughly 500 sensors. If spaced 3000 km apart, we would need “only” around 50 to 60 sensors. Presently we have over 70 WWLLN sensors. We are always on the look out for more sensor sites.

Please contact us if you are interested in hosting a WWLLN lightning sensor.

Publications

More information on the World Wide Lightning Location Network is available from our publication list.

WWLLN Data Available

Archival data are available for sale from August 15, 2004 to the present. Our site hosts receive a free monthly subscription. WWLLN Data are available via internet with cadence every 10 minutes for research purposes from the University of Washington, or with a cadence of as fast as every minute (i.e. in realtime) from our commercial reseller. Please contact us for more information.

Acknowledgements

WWLLN data is produced with the help and cooperation of numerous universities, institutes and researchers located all around the world. Many thanks to these groups for hosting our WWLLN lightning sensors!