Re: NWS Doppler RADAR

["Tesla list" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>]

Original poster: "Jim Lux by way of Terry Fritz <teslalist-at-qwest-dot-net>" <jimlux-at-earthlink-dot-net>

At 08:36 AM 7/23/2003 -0600, you wrote:
>Original poster: "by way of Terry Fritz <teslalist-at-qwest-dot-net>" 
><jwhitmor-at-muscanet-dot-com>
>
>My associate (nicknamed "Shockwave" ??) has an interesting question.
>The doppler RADAR displays on TV, now show lightning strike positions
>(in more or less realtime) embedded in the false color RADAR displays.
>
>What he asked, was how big a coil would he have to build for it to register
>lightning strikes on "The Weather Channel"?
>
>My feeling is that lightning strike positions, are probably triangulated
>from VLF/ULF radio receivers and not from RADAR at all, (although I
>suppose supersonic, superheated, plasma would have a unique and
>detectable doppler frequency shift).
>
>Anybody have experience with this equipment?

Indeed.. There are several schemes for detecting lightning that are used 
commercially:

Angle of arrival and strength -> www.boltek-dot-com
National Lightning Detection Network -> low frequency RF and time of 
arrival at different stations
DMSP Satellites can detect lightning flashes from space.



>Jimbo