The Characteristics of the Lightning Locating System

and Its Application in Lightning Risk Assessment

A Zhong Chen
Lightning Protection Central of Quzhou Meteorological Bureau
QMB
Cazhong_126@126.com


Abstract -In this paper, we primarily discuss how the lightning
locating system (LLS) working. We present the method of
lightning risk assessment and the process of the data received
from the LLS sensors. Also discussed will be the practical
applications in lightning risk assessment.
Keywords lightning locating system (LLS); lightning risk
management; time of arrival (TOA); lightning ground flash
density; geographic information system (GIS)
I. INTRODUCTION
The lightning locating system (LLS) of Zhejiang province
was installed in 2006. The LLS network of Zhejiang province
began real-time operation in 2007. And the LLS is composed
of 12 regional clusters having 1 time of arrival (TOA) sensor
each. The LLS can be used to minimize the harmful effects of
lightning by providing early warning of such lightning
hazards. The system can also be used to determine how much
lightning actually occurs within a given region and the
statistics of TOA sensors that are important in research and in
the lightning risk assessment. We will primarily discuss how
the LLS working. And also discussed will be the applications
of data from the sensors in the lightning risk assessment.
II. THE LIGHTNING LOCATING SYSTEM
Lightning locating system is a powerful tool for lightning
locating and lightning disaster forecasting.
A. Lightning locating techniques
There are three most common electromagnetic radio-
frequency locating techniques, magnetic direction finding
(MDF), time of arrival (TOA), and interferometry, the type of
locating information obtained depends on the frequency of the
radiation detected [1].
TOA for locating lightning can be divided into three
general types: (1) very-short-baseline (tens to hundreds of
meters), (2) short-baseline (tens of kilometers), and (3) long-
baseline (hundreds to thousands of kilometers). The LLS of
Zhejiang province use the TOA techniques. All sensors use
global positioning system (GPS) clocks, and timing accuracy
is 0.1s. The LLS network can provide an improvement in
locating accuracy. Data from each sensor are sent to a central
station where locations and other parameters are calculated.
B. Process the data of cloud-to-ground lightning
The processing of the data is very important in the
lightning risk assessment because the number of lightning
flashes will be used in many steps of the assessment. The
geographic information system (GIS) is used to manage the
data from the LLS. GIS-based lightning detection and analysis
system is a powerful assistant tool for processing lightning
information.
The map data includes the vector map data and grid data.
We import the lightning information into the system. After
vector treatment, the lightning information will be changed
into standard layer file. Then we can process the real-time or
historical data of cloud-to-ground lightning information.
Finally, the processed lightning information layer can be saved
as the local vector layer files or as the form of table in
Microsoft office excel and text [2].
III. LIGHTNING RISK ASSESSMENT
To reduce the loss to lightning, protection measures may be
required. Whether they are needed, and to what extent, should
be determined by risk assessment.
The risk defined as the probable average annual loss in a
structure and in a service due to lightning flashes, depends on
three actors: (1) the annual number of lightning flashes
influencing the structure and the service, (2) the probability of
damage by one of the influencing lightning flashes, and (3) the
mean amount of consequential loss [3].
The number of lightning flashes influencing the structure
and the services depends on the dimensions and the
characteristics of the structure and of the service, as well as on
lightning ground flash density in the region where the structure
and the services are located.
In the risk assessment, the average annual number of
dangerous events due to lightning flashes influencing an object
to be protected depends on the thunderstorm activity of the
region where the object is located and on the objects physical
characteristics.
To calculate the average annual number, it is generally
accepted to multiply the lightning ground flash density (N
g
) by
an equivalent collection area of the object and by taking into
The 1st International Conference on Information Science and Engineering (ICISE2009)
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account correction factors for the structures physical
characteristics.
The lightning ground flash density, N
g
is the number of
lightning flashes per km
2
per year. This value is available from
ground flash location networks in many areas of the world.
The practical application of the lightning ground flash
density (N
g
) in our lightning risk assessment may be evaluated
as the product
N
g
= N/A (1)
Where N is the total number of lightning flashes in 5
kilometers radius around the structure and service that we will
assess, and A is the area of 5 kilometers radius around (km
2
). If
a map of N
g
is not available, it may be estimated by
N
g
0.1T
d
(2)
In (2), T
d
is the thunderstorm days per year, which can be
obtained from isokreaunic maps [3].
In the practical operation of the lightning risk assessment,
we compare the results of (1) and (2). The maximum result
will be used for the follow-up calculation and assessment.
Now we will discuss the procedure of the lightning risk
assessment.
A. Basic procedure
The following procedure shall be applied: (1) identification
of the object to be protected and its characteristics; (2)
identification of all types of loss in the object and the relevant
corresponding risk R, (3) evaluation of risk R for each type of
loss, (4) evaluation of need of protection, by comparison of
risk R for a structure with the tolerable risk R
T
.
B. Tolerable risk R
T

The values of tolerable risk R
T
, where lightning flashes
involve loss of human life or loss of social or cultural values,
are identified by the authority. Also we can adopt the
representative values given by the international standard IEC
62305-2, which name is RISK MANAGEMENT.
C. Procedure to evaluate the need of protection
If R R
T
, lightning protection is not necessary. Or
protection measures shall be adopted in order to reduce R. For
each type of loss, there are many protection measures which,
individually or in combination, make the condition R R
T
.
The solution to be adopted shall be selected with allowance
for technical and economic aspects. The job shall be made by
the designers because they know the share of each risk
component in the total risk R. So they can identify the critical
parameters to determine the more efficient measure to reduce
the risk R.
IV. CONCLUSION
The installation of the lightning locating system (LLS) is
very important to the lightning risk assessment works. The
demand for the lightning information is huge. There exists a
variety of applications of the lightning detecting data. In this
paper, we have presented an efficient and practical application
of the LLS. It should be noted that the GIS technique can be
used to design the visualized management system of the LLS
data.
V. ACKNOWLEDGMENT
Many people have made invaluable contributions, both
directly and indirectly to my paper. I wish to thank my
colleague Li Hong Feng and my classmate Lu Chun Song for
providing me with valuable advice.
VI. REFERENCES
[1] V. A. Rakov and M. A. Uman, Lightning: physics and effects.
Cambridge, United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press, 2003.
[2] P. G. Song, N. Li, H. J. Yang, GIS-based lightning monitoring system.
Journal of Natural Disasters, Vol. 15, No. 6, pp. 74-76, December 2006.
[3] The International Electro-technical Commission (IEC), International
Standard IEC 62305-2: Risk Management, 2006.

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