LTS2005® Lightning Tracking Software USER’S GUIDE

Version 4.0 May 2011

M210672EN-D PUBLISHED BY

Vaisala Oyj Tel. +358 9 8949 1 P.O. Box 26 Fax +358 9 8949 2227 FIN-00421 Helsinki Finland

Visit our Internet pages at http://www.vaisala.com/

FOR TECHNICAL INFORMATION

Vaisala Inc. Tel. +011 520 294 2145 Tucson Operations Fax: +011 520 741 2848 2705 E. Medina Rd. Toll free (US) 1 800 221 9779 Tucson, AZ 85756 USA

© Vaisala 2011

No part of this manual may be reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical (including photocopying), nor may its contents be communicated to a third party without prior written permission of the copyright holder.

The contents are subject to change without prior notice.

Please observe that this manual does not create any legally binding obligations for Vaisala towards the customer or end user. All legally binding commitments and agreements are included exclusively in the applicable supply contract or Conditions of Sale. ______

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 GENERAL INFORMATION...... 1 About This Manual...... 1 Contents of This Manual ...... 1 Document Conventions...... 3 Safety ...... 3 General Safety Considerations ...... 3 Product Related Precautions ...... 4 Trademarks...... 4 Copyrights ...... 5 License Agreement...... 6 Warranty ...... 6

Chapter 2 LTS2005 OVERVIEW ...... 7 LTS2005 GUI Description ...... 7 Display Modes...... 9 Supported Data Types...... 9 Processing Tasks ...... 9 Display Tasks ...... 9 Using Anti-Virus Software...... 10 Using Screen Savers ...... 10 Displaying Software Version Information...... 10 Displaying LTS2005 Legal Notices...... 11 Getting Technical Support ...... 12 Using Context-Sensitive, Or "What’s This" Help ...... 12 Using On-line Help...... 12 Using Task-Oriented Help...... 12 Accessing the Main Help File...... 12 Printing the Help File ...... 13 Using Links in Help ...... 13 Changing Help Font Size...... 13 Adding a Custom Logo...... 13 Add Custom Logo to Main Screen ...... 13 Add Custom Logo to Generated Images ...... 13 Add Custom Logo to Printed Maps ...... 14 Understanding the Desktop Icons...... 14 Starting and Stopping LTS2005 ...... 15

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Chapter 3 UNDERSTANDING THE GUI ...... 17 Main Menu Items ...... 17 File Menu Items...... 17 View Menu Items...... 19 Tools Menu Items ...... 21 Replay Menu Items ...... 23 Help Menu Items...... 23 Toolbar ...... 25 Status Bar ...... 27 Real-Time Mode...... 27 Standard Replay Mode ...... 27 HotKey Replay Mode ...... 28 Alarms Dialog Box ...... 29 Inspector Window ...... 34 Customizing Inspector Parameters...... 35 No Lightning Found by Inspector ...... 36 Monitor Window ...... 37 Time-Lapse Histogram ...... 39 Relocating the Histogram...... 40 Viewing a Line Graph of Histogram Data...... 41 System and Application Configuration...... 42 Determining Your Licensed Data Region...... 42 License File...... 42 Password Protection ...... 43 Password-Protected Functions ...... 44 Entering a Password...... 44 Changing the Password...... 44 Lost Password...... 45 System Messages and Bulletins...... 46 Locating System Bulletins...... 46 Viewing System Bulletins and Messages...... 46 Information Window...... 47 LTS2005 Display Modes ...... 48 Method two:...... 48 Discharges Mode ...... 49 Density Mode ...... 50 Cells Mode ...... 51 LTS2005 Time (UTC) ...... 52 Time and Discharges ...... 52 Map Legend Time ...... 52 LTS2005 Symbol Fonts...... 53 Next Font Command...... 53 Proportional Fonts...... 54 General Configuration Dialog Box ...... 57 General Tab ...... 59 Connections Tab...... 62 Density Tab...... 65 Identify Tab ...... 69

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Defining Inspector Window Parameters...... 70 Others Tab ...... 71 Lat and Lon Boxes—DMS Option...... 75

Chapter 4 UNDERSTANDING LTS2005 COMMUNICATIONS ...... 77 Central Data and Configuration...... 77 Determining Communications Status...... 79 Configuring Email Notification ...... 80 Removing a Name From the Email Addresses List Box .....80 Renaming an Email Address ...... 81 Testing an Email Address Used By the System ...... 81

Chapter 5 LTS2005 SYSTEM FILES...... 83 System Archives ...... 83 Archive Specifics...... 83 ALARM Archive ...... 84 Central Archive—(CEN)...... 84 Cells...... 84 Density...... 84 Locating and Viewing Archived ALARM Text Files...... 85 Locating and Viewing Log Files ...... 86 Locating and Viewing Archive Files ...... 87 Backing Up System Files ...... 88 Locating System Backup Directories ...... 88 Backing Up Lightning Data Files...... 89 Understanding Configuration Files...... 90 Locating Configuration Files ...... 90 Central Connection Parameters...... 91 Archive Parameters ...... 91 Map Parameters ...... 91 Clear Warning Area Style Parameters...... 92 In Alert Warning Area Style Parameters...... 92 Display Data Parameters...... 92 Warning Area Alert Parameters...... 92 Warning Area Parameters ...... 93 Predefined Zoom Parameters...... 93 General Tab Parameters ...... 93 Connections Tab Parameters ...... 93 Density Tab Parameters ...... 93 Identify Tab Parameters ...... 93 Others Tab Parameters ...... 93 Overwriting Configuration Files...... 94 Using Multiple Configuration Files ...... 94 Determining the Current Configuration File ...... 95 Changing (Loading) a Named Configuration file...... 95 Saving a Configuration file ...... 96

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Chapter 6 UNDERSTANDING THE AREA MAP...... 97 Map Features ...... 98 Changing the Area Map ...... 98 Map Grid Lines ...... 98 Map Scale Bar...... 100 Distance Between Objects ...... 100 Distance and Bearing To an Event ...... 101 Map Layers and Geosets...... 103 Map Layers ...... 103 Managing Map Layers...... 106 Map Layer Order...... 108 Layer Properties...... 108 Map Labels...... 110 Navigating the Area Map ...... 111 Zoom and Navigation Options...... 111 Zooming to the Extents of the Subscribed Data Region ...111 Zooming In On Displayed Data...... 111 Zooming Out On the Displayed Data ...... 112 Panning the Area Map ...... 113 Maps, Projections and Geosets...... 114 Map Projections ...... 114 Map Geosets...... 115 Map Legend ...... 117 The Map Legend in Discharges Mode ...... 119 The Map Legend in Density Mode ...... 121 The Map Legend in Cells Mode ...... 123 Changing Map Legend Colors ...... 125 Defining Custom Map Legend Colors ...... 125

Chapter 7 UNDERSTANDING DATA AGING ...... 127 Map Legend Color Keys ...... 132 Time-Period Length ...... 133

Chapter 8 UNDERSTANDING WARNING AREAS...... 135 Warning Area Options ...... 137 Creating Warning Areas ...... 139 Create a Circular Warning Area with Known Coordinates 141 Create a Circular Warning Area with Unknown Coordinates .. 144 Create a Circular Warning Area–Manually Placed...... 147 Create a Concentric Warning Area ...... 150 Create a Warning Area Using a Polygon ...... 154 Defining Warning Area Styles...... 157 Enabling and Displaying Warning Areas ...... 159

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Modifying a Warning Area...... 160 Combining Warning Areas ...... 163 Removing a Warning Area...... 165 Renaming a Warning Area...... 165 Determining the Properties of a Warning Area ...... 166

Chapter 9 UNDERSTANDING ALERTS STATUS ...... 169 Determining Current Alerts Status ...... 170 Acknowledging an Alert ...... 171 Configuring an Alert Condition For a Warning Area...... 172 Configuring Email Notification For Specific Warning Areas .... 174

Chapter 10 VIEWING LIGHTNING DATA ...... 177 Data and Warning Area Limits...... 177 Data Limits ...... 177 Warning Limits ...... 177 Discharge Types ...... 178 Event Display—Appearance ...... 181 Determining Coordinates ...... 183 Center Coordinate of the Current Display Area ...... 183 Coordinates of an Event ...... 184 Current Cursor Position (Latitude and Longitude) ...... 185 Event Date and Time...... 186 Event Intensity ...... 187 Determining the Most Recent Event(s) ...... 190 Event Polarity ...... 191 Total Lightning Counts...... 192 Viewing Event Information Using Inspector...... 193 No Lightning Found by Inspector ...... 194 Displaying Gradient Colors For Lightning Data Display..195 Displaying Solid Colors For Lightning Data Display...... 197 Printing the Display Area ...... 198 Predefined Zoom Levels...... 199 Adding a Predefined Zoom ...... 200 Removing a Predefined Zoom ...... 200 Selecting a Predefined Zoom Level For Viewing ...... 201 Configuring a Specific Predefined Zoom Sequence ...... 202 Length of Time a Predefined Zoom is Displayed ...... 203 Synchronize Taking an Image When LTS2005 Changes a Predefined Zoom Level...... 204 Auto-Cycle Predefined Zooms ...... 204 Querying Lightning Data ...... 206 Default Date and Time ...... 207 Query Specific Lightning Data ...... 207

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Chapter 11 VIEWING 3D LIGHTNING DATA...... 209 Intra-cloud (IC) Data...... 210 Initiation Points...... 212 Discrimination Values...... 214 IC Node Breakdown...... 215 Selecting Lightning Data For 3D Viewing ...... 216 Section Width Dialog Box...... 220 Light Manager...... 226 Modifying 3D Light Properties...... 226 Defining Attenuation...... 226 Defining a Light Style ...... 227 Changing the Light Color ...... 227 Determining Light Position(s)...... 228 Object Manager ...... 229

Chapter 12 CREATING AND SAVING IMAGE FILES ...... 231 Saving Images ...... 231 Automatically Saving an Image—Periodically...... 231 Manually Saving an Image File...... 234

Chapter 13 USING THE VAISALA LIGHTNING DATA SERVER...... 237 Understanding ASCII Output ...... 237 Determining Your Licensed ASCII Output Region ...... 237 Configuring LTS2005 For ASCII Output...... 238 Verifying ASCII Output...... 239 IC Events...... 239 VLDS Window...... 239 VLDS Configuration Window ...... 240 Displaying VLDS Version Information ...... 242

Chapter 14 LTS2005 REPLAY FUNCTIONS ...... 243 Standard Replay...... 243 Replay Speed...... 247 Replaying a Data Video ...... 248 Selecting a Time Period For Standard Replay...... 249 Live Replay ...... 250 HotKey Replay...... 251 HotKey Replay Frame Rates ...... 252 Replay and Query Tools—Date and Time Fields ...... 253 Interaction of Map Legend Colors and Replay...... 254 Data Aging and Replay ...... 254 Map Legend Colors and Replay...... 254 Build Video Function ...... 256

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Build Video Dialog Box ...... 256 Building an LTS2005 Data Video...... 258 Nowcasting...... 260

Appendix A COMMONLY USED MAP PROJECTIONS ...... 261 Mercator Projection ...... 262 Regional Equal-Area Projections ...... 263 UTM (WGS84) Projection...... 265 US State Plane Projection ...... 267

Appendix B INSPECTOR WINDOW PARAMETERS...... 269

Appendix C GLOSSARY ...... 273

Appendix D INTRODUCTION TO LIGHTNING DETECTION ...... 281 Lightning Phenomena ...... 281 Anatomy of a CG Lightning Flash ...... 281 Radio Frequency Characteristics of Lightning ...... 282 Uses of Lightning Data...... 284 LF/VLF Lightning Location Methods...... 285 A Brief History ...... 285 Basic Direction Finding ...... 286 Basic Time-of-Arrival...... 287 Improved Accuracy from Combined Technology ...... 289 Stroke Peak Current ...... 291 VHF Detection...... 292 Direction Finding Based on VHF Interferometry ...... 292 Wide Baseline TOA Methods Operating at VHF...... 293 VHF Signal Strength ...... 294 Lightning Location System Performance...... 294 Measurement of Location Accuracy...... 294 Data Consistency...... 296 Detection Efficiency ...... 297 Use of Location Quality Indicators...... 297 References...... 298 INDEX ...... 301

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List of Figures

Figure 1 LTS2005 Display...... 7 Figure 2 About Dialog Box ...... 11 Figure 3 LTS2005 Legal Notices...... 11 Figure 4 File Menu ...... 17 Figure 5 View Menu ...... 19 Figure 6 Tools Menu ...... 21 Figure 7 Replay Menu...... 23 Figure 8 Help Menu...... 23 Figure 9 Toolbar...... 25 Figure 10 Status Bar—Replay Mode ...... 27 Figure 11 Status Bar—HotKey Replay Mode...... 28 Figure 12 Alarms Dialog Box—Note Warning Areas ...... 30 Figure 13 Inspector Window—Parameters ...... 34 Figure 14 Nothing Found by Inspector...... 36 Figure 15 Monitor Window—Examples...... 38 Figure 16 Time-lapse histogram ...... 39 Figure 17 Relocating the Histogram...... 40 Figure 18 Viewing the Histogram as a Line Graph ...... 41 Figure 19 Licensed Data Region...... 42 Figure 20 Viewing Licensed Options...... 43 Figure 21 Messages and Bulletins Window ...... 46 Figure 22 Information Window—Title Bar ...... 47 Figure 23 Information Window—Information Type...... 47 Figure 24 Event Data and Map Legend—Discharges Mode...... 49 Figure 25 Event Data and Map Legend—Density mode...... 50 Figure 26 Event Data and Map Legend—Cells Mode...... 51 Figure 27 Date/Time Example ...... 52 Figure 28 LTS2005 Proportional Font Symbols ...... 55 Figure 29 LTS2005 Regular Font Symbols...... 56 Figure 30 General Configuration Dialog Box ...... 57 Figure 31 General Tab ...... 59 Figure 32 Connections Tab...... 62 Figure 33 Density Tab...... 65 Figure 34 Identify Tab ...... 69 Figure 35 Others Tab ...... 71 Figure 36 Selecting the Coordinate in DMS Option ...... 75 Figure 37 Configuring the Central Connection...... 78 Figure 38 Viewing Communications Status ...... 79 Figure 39 Email Notification Panel ...... 80 Figure 40 Configuring Email...... 82 Figure 41 ALARM Text File...... 85 Figure 42 .log File ...... 86 Figure 43 Confirm Dialog Box ...... 94 Figure 44 Determining the Current Configuration File ...... 95 Figure 45 Configuration Filename Text Box...... 95 Figure 46 Map Grid Displayed Over the Area Map ...... 99

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Figure 47 Scale Bar...... 100 Figure 48 Distance and Bearing—Examples ...... 102 Figure 49 Typical Area Map ...... 104 Figure 50 Layer Control Dialog Box ...... 105 Figure 51 Display Properties Dialog Box...... 109 Figure 52 Label Properties Dialog Box...... 110 Figure 53 Zoom Options...... 111 Figure 54 Choose Projection Dialog Box ...... 115 Figure 55 Geoset Dialog Box ...... 116 Figure 56 Legend Dialog Box—Minimized and Maximized...... 118 Figure 57 Map Legend—Discharges Mode...... 119 Figure 58 Map Legend—Density Mode...... 121 Figure 59 Map Legend—Cells Mode...... 123 Figure 60 Map Legend Color Keys...... 125 Figure 61 Data Aging—Time Lapse Example ...... 128 Figure 62 Aged Lightning Data...... 129 Figure 63 Data Aging—Legend Shown...... 130 Figure 64 Data Aging—Legend with Histogram ...... 131 Figure 65 Map Legend—Color Keys ...... 132 Figure 66 Selecting a Time-Period Length...... 133 Figure 67 Example Warning Areas—3 WAs Displayed ...... 135 Figure 68 Example Warning Areas—Close-Up of WA in Alert...... 136 Figure 69 Area Definition Dialog Box Options...... 137 Figure 70 Alarms Dialog Box Options ...... 138 Figure 71 Area Definition Dialog Box ...... 140 Figure 72 Creating a Circular Warning Area—Known Coordinates .....143 Figure 73 Creating a Circular Warning Area—Unknown Coordinates .146 Figure 74 Manually-Placed Circular Warning Area ...... 149 Figure 75 Concentric Warning Areas—Alert Mode in Outer Ring ...... 153 Figure 76 Two Polygon-Shaped Warning Areas (Notice Warning Area in Alert)156 Figure 77 Region Style Dialog Box ...... 158 Figure 78 Enabling a Warning Area ...... 159 Figure 79 Combining Warning Areas ...... 163 Figure 80 Selecting a Warning Area and Viewing Area Definition Properties167 Figure 81 Alerts Status Window ...... 169 Figure 82 Alerts Status Window—In Alert Mode ...... 171 Figure 83 Configuring An Alert Condition...... 172 Figure 84 Configuring Email...... 175 Figure 85 Discharge Types Dialog Box...... 179 Figure 86 Discharge Types—Display...... 181 Figure 87 Events Trigger an Alert ...... 182 Figure 88 Determining the Center Coordinates...... 183 Figure 89 Selecting Lightning...... 184 Figure 90 Lat. Lon. Information Using Inspector ...... 184 Figure 91 Lat. Lon. Information Using Status Bar ...... 185 Figure 92 Current Cursor Position...... 185 Figure 93 Inspector Window...... 186 Figure 94 Intensity of an Event Using Inspector...... 187 Figure 95 Proportional Font Intensity—Range Categories...... 188 Figure 96 Proportional Symbols Used in Determining Event Intensity.189 Figure 97 Two Examples of Latest Event Symbol(s) ...... 190

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Figure 98 Event Polarity Information...... 191 Figure 99 Total Lightning Counts—Status Bar...... 192 Figure 100 Total Lightning Counts—Monitor ...... 192 Figure 101 Inspector Window—IC and CG Data ...... 193 Figure 102 Nothing Found Message...... 194 Figure 103 Color Key Colors—Gradient ...... 195 Figure 104 Color Key Colors—Solid ...... 197 Figure 105 Predefined Zooms Dialog Box ...... 199 Figure 106 Creating a Specific Zoom Sequence ...... 202 Figure 107 Predefined Zooms—Auto-Cycle Mode ...... 204 Figure 108 Querying Lightning Data ...... 206 Figure 109 Data Query Results...... 208 Figure 110 3D Lightning Data Displayed Over Area Map ...... 209 Figure 111 Intra-Cloud Lightning Data—Close Up...... 210 Figure 112 IC Data Displayed Over an Area Map With Inspector...... 211 Figure 113 Intra-Cloud Lightning Branches ...... 212 Figure 114 Initiation Points Displayed Over The Area Map ...... 213 Figure 115 IC Data...... 214 Figure 116 IC Node Breakdown...... 215 Figure 117 Section Width Dialog Box ...... 216 Figure 118 Selecting Data...... 217 Figure 119 Selected 3D Lightning Data—IC Line ...... 218 Figure 120 3D Lightning Data Displayed in the Section3D Window ...... 219 Figure 121 Section Width Dialog Box ...... 220 Figure 122 Section3D Window—2D Data Displayed ...... 221 Figure 123 Selecting and Viewing Data in 3D—Progression...... 222 Figure 124 Light Manager Dialog Box...... 226 Figure 125 Determining Light Position ...... 228 Figure 126 Object Manager Dialog Box ...... 229 Figure 127 Object Manager Dialog Box ...... 230 Figure 128 Automatic Image Save Panel...... 232 Figure 129 Save Image Path Panel ...... 233 Figure 130 Save Image Dialog Box ...... 234 Figure 131 Save Image—Example ...... 235 Figure 132 Panel Indicating the Licensed ASCII Output Region ...... 238 Figure 133 ASCII Output Panel...... 238 Figure 134 Licenses Panel...... 239 Figure 135 ASCII and IC Events ...... 239 Figure 136 Vaisala Lightning Data Server (VLDS) Window—On and Off states240 Figure 137 VLDS Configuration Dialog Box...... 241 Figure 138 About VLDS Window ...... 242 Figure 139 Replay Dialog Box ...... 244 Figure 140 Determining Replay Speed ...... 247 Figure 141 Selecting a Time Period For Replay ...... 249 Figure 142 Replay and Query Tool Time Selection—1...... 253 Figure 143 Replay and Query Tool Time Selection—1...... 253 Figure 144 Map Legend Color Keys Versus Lightning Data Age...... 255 Figure 145 Replay and Build Video Dialog Boxes ...... 256 Figure 146 Build Video Dialog Box ...... 257 Figure 147 Mercator Projection of the World ...... 262 Figure 148 Regional Equal-Area Projection—India ...... 263 Figure 149 Regional Equal-Area Projection—World View ...... 264

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Figure 150 UTM (WGS84), Zone 13, Northern Hemisphere...... 265 Figure 151 UTM (WGS84), Zone 13, Northern Hemisphere Showing the Area Around 105 Degrees West266 Figure 152 US State Plane Coordinate System (1983, meters), Showing Oklahoma North Region267 Figure 153 US State Plane Coordinate System (1983, meters), Showing The World268 Figure 154 Identify Tab ...... 269 Figure 155 CG and Cloud Flashes at Various Frequency Ranges ...... 282 Figure 156 Relationship, Frequency and Lightning Detection Method...283 Figure 157 Optimal Location Algorithm for Magnetic Direction Finding .286 Figure 158 Hyperbolic Intersection...... 287 Figure 159 Ambiguous Location, 3-Sensor Hyperbolic Intersection ...... 288 Figure 160 Circular Intersection Using Three Sensors ...... 289 Figure 161 Circular Intersection Step Using Four Sensors ...... 289 Figure 162 IMPACT Method on a Baseline Between Two Sensors...... 290 Figure 163 IMPACT Method: 3 LPATS TOA, 2 IMPACT Sensors ...... 291 Figure 164 Triangulation for Interferometric Location ...... 293 Figure 165 Confidence Ellipse: Unfavorable Sensor Geometry...... 295 Figure 166 Confidence Ellipse: Favorable Sensor Geometry ...... 295 Figure 167 Using Confidence Ellipse to Identify Most Likely Stroke ...... 298

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List of Tables

Table 1 Document Conventions...... 3 Table 2 LTS 2005 Desktop Icons...... 14 Table 3 LTS2005 Toolbar Button Functions ...... 25 Table 4 Status Bar Information ...... 27 Table 5 Alarms Dialog Box—Functions ...... 31 Table 6 LTS2005 Display Modes...... 48 Table 7 LTS2005 Symbol Font Types ...... 53 Table 8 Proportional Font Categories ...... 54 Table 9 Common Buttons ...... 58 Table 10 General Tab—Functions...... 60 Table 11 Connections Tab—Functions...... 63 Table 12 Density Tab—Functions ...... 66 Table 13 Others Tab—Functions...... 72 Table 14 Determining Communications Status—Indicators ...... 79 Table 15 ALARM Text File—Fields...... 85 Table 16 Layer Control Dialog Box—Functions...... 105 Table 17 Map Legend—Discharge Mode Functions...... 120 Table 18 Map Legend—Density Mode Functions...... 122 Table 19 Map Legend—Cells Mode Functions...... 124 Table 20 Data Aging—Time Period vs. Refresh Period...... 127 Table 21 Default Region Style Colors...... 158 Table 22 Area Definition Dialog Box—Functions...... 160 Table 23 Alerts Status—Data Fields...... 170 Table 24 Discharge Type—Display Symbols...... 178 Table 25 Proportional Font Range Categories ...... 188 Table 26 Event Polarity Symbols ...... 191 Table 27 Data Query—Field Descriptions ...... 207 Table 28 Discrimination Values ...... 214 Table 29 Section3D Window—First Row Functions ...... 223 Table 30 Section3D Window—Second Row Functions ...... 224 Table 31 Section3D Dialog Box—Ancillary Windows and Dialog Boxes .. 225 Table 32 VLDS Button/Indicator Functions...... 240 Table 33 VLDS Key Descriptions ...... 241 Table 34 Replay Types ...... 243 Table 35 Replay Dialog Box—Functions ...... 245 Table 36 HotKey Replay—Data Length ...... 252 Table 37 Replay Frame Rate Versus Time...... 252 Table 38 Inspector Dialog Box—Parameters...... 270 Table 39 The Scaling Constant and Probability Relationship ...... 295

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CHAPTER 1 GENERAL INFORMATION

About This Manual

This guide provides information for configuring and operating v4.0 of the Vaisala LTS2005 lightning detection software.

Contents of This Manual

This manual consists of the following chapters:

- Chapter 1, General Information, provides important safety, revision history, contact, and warranty information for the product. - Chapter 2, LTS2005 Overview, on page 7, provides an overview of the software as well as describes how to start and stop the software. - Chapter 3, Understanding the GUI, on page 17, describes the user interface including display modes and configuration. - Chapter 4, Understanding LTS2005 Communications, on page 77, describes how to determine communications status and communications configuration. - Chapter 5, LTS2005 System Files, on page 83, describes important Configuration, Alarm, Log and archive files; as well as backing up system files. - Chapter 6, Understanding the Area Map, on page 97, describes how data is displayed over the map and how to interpret data displayed over the map. This chapter also describes using various projections and geosets.

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- Chapter 7, Understanding Data Aging, on page 127, describes how LTS2005 ages the data using color as it is displayed on the screen as the data is replaced with more recent data. - Chapter 8, Understanding Warning Areas, on page 135, describes how you can create specific areas of concern (AOC) you want LTS2005 to monitor for activity. - Chapter 9, Understanding Alerts Status, on page 169, describes how to trigger an Alert using Warning Areas. Used to indicate activity within a specific AOC. - Chapter 10, Viewing Lightning Data, on page 177, describes how to view specific details regarding a specific event. This chapter also describes how to query lightning data, creating predefined zooms of the display and discharge types. - Chapter 11, Viewing 3D Lightning Data, on page 209, describes intra-cloud data and how to manipulate 3D data objects. - Chapter 12, Creating and Saving Image Files, on page 231, describes to automatically or manually create and save image files of displayed data. - Chapter 13, Using the Vaisala Lightning Data Server, on page 237, describes how to use ASCII output. - Chapter 14, LTS2005 Replay Functions, on page 243, describes how to replay archived lightning data over the Area Map. Also described is HotKey replay and how to build a video of lightning data for later viewing. - Appendix A, Commonly Used Map Projections, on page 261,describes the various map projections that can be used with the LTS2005 software. - Appendix B, Inspector Window Parameters, on page 269, describes the various Inspector window parameters. - Appendix C, Glossary, on page 273, is a glossary of terms used in the application and this guide. - Appendix D, Introduction To Lightning Detection, on page 281, provides information about the methods used by some Vaisala sensors to detect and locate lightning.

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Document Conventions

Different typefaces, type styles, and phraseology indicate specific user interactions with the system as illustrated in Table 1 below.

Table 1 Document Conventions Item Example System prompts, source code, and program c:\temp> output are in a mono-spaced typeface. User input is a bold, mono-spaced typeface. volcheck Optional entry is enclosed in square brackets format a: [/v] (for example, /v). Descriptive term used in place of user-specific the

.map file name is in italics and enclosed in angle brackets (for example, table). Key names are all capital letters. ENTER Use of ENTER key at the end of a command Key combinations that are held down CTRL+X simultaneously are all capital letters and separated by a plus symbol. ASCII values are enclosed in angle brackets. User interface items and command words are Click Cancel or use the in bold. quit command.

Safety

General Safety Considerations

Throughout the manual, important safety considerations are highlighted as follows:

WARNING Warning alerts you to a serious hazard. If you do not read and follow instructions very carefully at this point, there is a risk of injury or even death.

CAUTION Caution warns you of a potential hazard. If you do not read and follow instructions carefully at this point, the product could be damaged or important data could be lost.

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NOTE Note highlights important information on using the product.

Product Related Precautions

The LTS2005 software delivered to you has been tested for safety and approved as shipped from the factory. Note the following precautions:

CAUTION Do not modify the software. Improper modification can damage the product or lead to malfunction.

Trademarks

Vaisala and the Vaisala logo are registered trademarks of Vaisala Oyj in the United States and/or other countries.

Microsoft, Windows, Windows NT, Windows XP, Microsoft Vista and Microsoft Windows 7 are trademarks or registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries.

MapInfo, MapInfo Professional and MapBasic, and the MapInfo logo are registered trademarks of Pitney Bowes MapInfo Corporation.

Sybase, the Sybase logo, Sybase SQL, Open Client, and Open Client/Server are trademarks of Sybase Incorporated.

Sun, Sun Microsystems, the Sun logo, and Solaris are trademarks, registered trademarks or service marks of Sun Microsystems, Incorporated in the United States and other countries.

Adobe, the Adobe logo, Acrobat Reader, and PostScript are registered trademarks, or trademarks of Adobe Systems, Incorporated in the United States and/or other countries.

UNIX is a registered trademark in the United States and other countries, exclusively licensed through X/Open Company Limited.

Intel, the Intel logo, and Pentium are trademarks or registered trademarks of the Intel Corporation or its subsidiaries in the United States and other countries.

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All other company, product names, and brands used herein may be the trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.

Copyrights

No part of this file may be reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical (including photocopying), nor may its contents be communicated to a third party without prior written permission of the copyright holder.

The contents are subject to change without prior notice.

Please observe that this manual does not create any legally binding obligations for Vaisala towards the customer or end user. All legally binding commitments and agreements are included exclusively in the applicable supply contract or Conditions of Sale.

Portions of this computer program are owned by the Pitney Bowes MapInfo Corporation. The Pitney Bowes MapInfo logo and MapInfo Professional are registered trademarks of Pitney Bowes MapInfo Corporation, Copyright (c) 2008, all rights reserved. Use, duplication or disclosure by the Government is subject to restrictions as set forth in subparagraph (c)(1)(ii) of the Rights in Technical Data and Computer Software clause at DFARS 252.227-7013 or subparagraphs (c)(1) and (2) of the Commercial Computer Software--Restricted Rights at 48 CFR 52.227-19, as applicable. Manufacturer is Pitney Bowes MapInfo, One Global View, Troy, NY 12180. Rights are reserved under copyright laws of the United States with respect to unpublished portions of the Software.

XviD Codex Copyright Notice

XviD is distributed under the GNU GPL license. Copyright (C) 1989, 1991 Free Software Foundation, Inc. 59 Temple Place - Suite 330, Boston, MA 02111-1307, USA Copyright (C) 1989, 1991 Free Software Foundation, Inc. 59 Temple Place - Suite 330, Boston, MA 02111-1307, USA.

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License Agreement

All rights to any software are held by Vaisala or third parties. The customer is allowed to use the software only to the extent that is provided by the applicable supply contract or Software License Agreement.

Warranty

For certain products Vaisala normally gives a limited one year warranty. Please observe that any such warranty may not be valid in case of damage due to normal wear and tear, exceptional operating conditions, negligent handling or installation, or unauthorized modifications. Please see the applicable supply contract or conditions of sale for details of the warranty for each product.

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CHAPTER 2 LTS2005 OVERVIEW

LTS2005 GUI Description

The Vaisala Thunderstorm Lightning Tracking Software LTS2005®, or LTS2005, most basically is a lightning display and warning system that operates on the Windows® XP (with SP2), Vista or 7 platform.

LTS2005 can receive and display Central data from the SAFIR detection system (SCM), the National Lightning Detection Network® (U.S. NLDN), or an LP, CP or TLP series central processor.

Figure 1 LTS2005 Display

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The data received by the system can be (but not limited to):

- Used to monitor an area of concern (AOC) or Warning Area - Used to Alert and notify appropriate personnel of lightning activity within a specific Warning Area - Used to display and plot lightning activity - Archived and used for study - Assembled into videos - Viewed in 2D and 3D when using a Total Lightning Network

The LTS2005 application allows you to:

- Store, display, and replay lightning data - Display user-configured Warning Areas over an Area Map - Define and configure specific Warning Areas for monitoring - Configure Alert conditions for Warning Areas - Compute and display lightning density - Compute and display lightning cells and core based on density - Replay and view archived lightning over an Area Map - Configure color keys (used for the visualization of lightning activity based on a time-period selection) - Access On-line Help - Determine the most recent activity - Send an Email when an Alert occurs - Save an image file of the Display automatically (when licensed) - Provides ASCII Output (when licensed) - Share your data feed with other licensed copies of the LTS2005 software using the Vaisala Lightning Data Server (VLDS)

NOTE Configuration parameters provide the option of password-protection.

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Display Modes

Three user-selectable Display modes are available:

1. Discharge–Display of lightning discharges (IC and CG discharges). 2. Density–Display of lightning discharge density. 3. Cells–Display of lightning discharge cells.

For more information on Display Modes, see LTS2005 Display Modes on page 48.

Supported Data Types

LTS2005 supports the following data types:

- LP/CP/TLP -NLDN - Secondary

Processing Tasks

- Statistical monitoring histogram of lightning discharges number into user-defined area. - Real-time density calculation with online user settings. - Real-time cell tracking process with online user settings. - Real-time detailed information on cloud and cloud-to-ground lightning discharges.

Display Tasks

- Display of lightning data. - Provides online selection of map backgrounds (geosets), layers and projections. - Provides Display tools (zoom in/out, pan, predefined zoom and display center, grid, color scales, etc.).

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- Provides geographic tools (distance and direction measurements, geographical coordinates, etc.). - Provides support for Email notification for selected Warning Areas.

Using Anti-Virus Software

The LTS2005 system is compatible with industry-standard anti-virus software.

NOTE Refer to the ReadMe.txt file on the LTS2005 CD for details on tested and approved anti-virus software.

Using Screen Savers

Use of a screen saver other than the Windows Blank Screen selection is not recommended.

CAUTION Because the LTS2005 application cannot yield available resources, Vaisala recommends that the LTS2005 application and its utilities be the only application running on the system PC.

Displaying Software Version Information

The software version number is displayed in the opening splash screen.

To view LTS2005 software version number while the application is running:

1. From the LTS2005 Main menu, select Help > About. The LTS2005 About splash screen displays. Refer to Figure 2 below for detail. 2. The version number is displayed in the center of the splash screen. 3. Click OK to close the screen.

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Figure 2 About Dialog Box

Displaying LTS2005 Legal Notices

To view software legal notices while LTS2005 is running:

1. From the LTS2005 Main menu, select Help > About. The LTS2005 splash screen displays. Refer to About Dialog Box on page 11 and Figure 3 on page 11 for detail. 2. Click Legal Notices. A window displaying pertinent legal information displays. 3. Click OK to close the window.

Figure 3 LTS2005 Legal Notices

NOTE The current Configuration filename displays across the title bar.

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Getting Technical Support

Vaisala Incorporated Tel. 011 520 294 2145 Tucson Operations Fax: 011 520 741 2848 2705 E. Medina Road Toll free (US) 1 800 221 9779 Tucson, AZ 85756 USA

© Vaisala 2004-2011 Internet pages at http://www.vaisala.com Tech Support Email: [email protected]

Using Context-Sensitive, Or "What’s This" Help

Using On-line Help

1. Place the cursor in Select mode by clicking . 2. Place the cursor over an open LTS2005 dialog box, map area, or object. 3. Left-click the object. 4. Press the F1 key. The appropriate Help displays.

NOTE LTS2005 must be running to display On-line Help.

Using Task-Oriented Help

Accessing the Main Help File Method One

- From the LTS2005 Main menu, select Help > Help Topics. The LTS2005 Help file displays.

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Method Two

-Click Help whenever it is displayed in a LTS2005 dialog box.

Printing the Help File This Help file is not configured for printing. If you do print a topic, it is recommended that you set the default printer to Landscape mode before printing. This will aid in properly orienting Help file graphics.

Using Links in Help - Click on an underlined link to display Help for that subject.

Changing Help Font Size -Select Options > Font in an LTS2005 Help window to set a font size as needed for proper viewing.

Adding a Custom Logo

Add Custom Logo to Main Screen

Display a custom logo to the right of the VAISALA logo in the main application screen. The logo must be a bitmap file with a height of 25 pixels.

To enable this feature, the logo should be placed in the executable directory and named CustomerLogo.bmp.

Add Custom Logo to Generated Images

Display a custom logo at the top of the VAISALA logo on all the saved images. The logo must be a bitmap file. The VAISALA logo displayed on the generated images is 155x50 pixels.

To enable this feature the logo should be placed in the executable directory and named CustomerLogoScr.bmp.

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Add Custom Logo to Printed Maps

Display a custom logo at the top of the VAISALA logo on all printed maps. The logo must be a bitmap file. The VAISALA logo displayed on the printed maps is 260x80 pixels.

To enable this feature the logo should be placed in the executable directory and named CustomerLogoLpr.bmp.

Understanding the Desktop Icons

Icons placed on your Desktop during system installation provide access to LTS2005 applications. Table 2 below describes LTS2005 icons and their function.

Table 2 LTS 2005 Desktop Icons Icon Application Function LTS2005 Clicking the LTS2005 icon starts the LTS2005 application

Vaisala Lightning Clicking the VLDS icon displays the Vaisala Data Server Lightning Data Server window.

MediaPlayer Clicking the Media Player icon displays the Media Player, used to view .avi files recorded by the LTS2005 application.

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Starting and Stopping LTS2005

NOTE Before the LTS2005 application opens, it reads all archived files. Because archived files can be quite large, it may sometimes take awhile for the application to start.

To start the LTS2005 application:

Method One

- Double-click the LTS2005 Desktop icon. The LTS2005 application starts.

Method Two

1. Click Start in the Windows Status bar. 2. Select Programs > LTS2005. The LTS2005 application starts.

To stop the LTS2005 application:

Method One

- Click the Windows Close button to stop and close LTS2005. The Quit message displays while the application "cleans-up" before shutting down.

Method Two

- In the LTS2005 Main menu, select File > Exit. The Quit message displays while LTS2005 "cleans-up" before shutting down.

NOTE Using either method, you will need to enter the correct password to properly exit and close LTS2005.

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CHAPTER 3 UNDERSTANDING THE GUI

Main Menu Items

Main Menu items provide access to LTS2005 commands. Most of these commands can be accessed via the LTS2005 toolbar as well.

NOTE Password–protected functions are shown in red.

File Menu Items

Figure 4 File Menu

Load configuration...

Password–protected. Loads a saved Configuration file.

Save configuration

Password–protected. Saves a Configuration file.

Save configuration as...

Password–protected. Saves a Configuration in a user- named file.

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Save image

Displays the Save Image dialog box, permitting you to save the current displayed area to an image file.

Print...

Displays the Windows Print dialog box permitting you to print a copy of the main map area.

Exit

Password–protected. Exits (quits) the LTS2005 application.

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View Menu Items

Figure 5 View Menu

Display

Allows you to select a Display mode.

Alerts status

Displays the Alerts Status dialog box for determining Alerts Status.

Legend

Displays the Legend window for determining the age of an event or either density or cell values.

Monitor

Displays the Monitor window.

Predefined zooms

Displays the Predefined Zooms dialog box, for selecting predefined views for the Display.

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Discharge types

Displays the Discharge Types dialog box for selecting which type of lightning data to display (CC, CG, IC).

Information window

Displays the Information window. Messages sent from the LTS2005 system are displayed.

Messages and bulletins

Displays the Messages and Bulletins window. Messages sent from the Vaisala NCC are displayed.

Time lapse histogram

Displays the Time Lapse Histogram.

Scale bar

Displays the LTS2005 Scale Bar.

Lat/lon grid

Displays Map Grid over the Area Map.

Proportional font

Displays proportional symbols (fonts) whose display size is proportional to the strength of the lightning event.

Highlight last event

Turns on a distinctive visual cue to indicate the last event displayed.

Next font

Cycles through three preset fonts (symbols): solid, hollow, dot and circled event symbols.

Full screen (CTRL+F)

Display goes into full screen mode.

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Tools Menu Items

Figure 6 Tools Menu

GIS

The tools available on the GIS menu item are available on the tool bar as well.

Permits access to the following:

Select—Turns the cursor into the Select tool, useful for accessing context-sensitive Help. Using this tool avoids making undesired changes on the display area.

Zoom In—Zooms in on the current image. Cursor turns into a magnifying glass (+), allowing you to zoom in on the current image.

Zoom Out—Zooms out on the current image. Cursor turns into a magnifying glass (–), allowing you to zoom out of the current image.

Pan—Turns the cursor into a hand so you can move the map area; allowing you to view areas of the image not currently visible.

Discharge Information—Turns cursor into the Inspection tool, for selecting lightning data. Once an event is selected, Inspector displays with specific event information.

Distance and Bearing—Turns cursor into the crosshair symbol, so you can place your cursor on the map and obtain a distance and bearing measurement to another

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object (city, road, etc.), relative to the previous cursor position.

Section 3D—Enables the Section 3D tool allowing the selection of specific lightning data for display. The Section3D window is used to display event information along three axis (XY, XZ, and YZ). Data is viewed when Secondary data is selected in the General Configuration dialog box, Connections tab.

Zoom all—Zooms to all lightning activity in your subscribed region.

Configuration...

Password–protected. Displays the General Configuration dialog box so you can view and change current configuration and connection settings.

Alarm configuration...

Password–protected. Displays the Alarm Configuration dialog box so you can view and change current Alarm configuration settings.

Modify Warning Areas...

Password–protected. Displays the Area Definition dialog box so you can create or modify a Warning Area.

Query Data

Displays the Query Data dialog box. Used to query data for any flashes within the date and time span entered.

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Replay Menu Items

Figure 7 Replay Menu

Hot key

Select from the previous 30 (F5), 60 (F6), 90 (F7), or 120 (F8) minutes to replay data for the selected time frame.

Standard...

Displays the Replay dialog box allowing you to select from Archived data for replay.

Help Menu Items

Figure 8 Help Menu

Help Topics...

Displays the main LTS2005 Help file.

Show logs...

Displays all LTS2005 debug windows.

Hide logs

Hides all LTS2005 debug windows.

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About...

Displays the LTS2005 About dialog box (includes version and program name information). Includes a button to access Legal Notices.

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Toolbar

The LTS2005 Toolbar (Figure 9 below) provides access to LTS2005 controls and functions via buttons.

Figure 9 Toolbar

Table 3 below describes the LTS2005 Toolbar buttons and their associated function. Most of these tool s are available from the Tools > GIS Main menu item. Table 3 LTS2005 Toolbar Button Functions Button Function Print—Click to display the Print dialog box.

Discharges—Click to enter Discharges mode.

Density—Click to enter Density mode.

Cells——Click to enter Cells mode.

Select—Click to place the cursor in Select mode. Default mode.

Zoom in—Click to place the cursor in Zoom In mode.

Zoom out—Click to place the cursor in Zoom Out mode.

Pan—Click to place the cursor in Pan mode.

Identify—Click to place the cursor in Identify mode when using Inspector.

Distance and bearing—Click to place the cursor in Distance and Bearing mode.

3D—Enables the Section 3D tool allowing the selection of specific lightning data for display. The Section3D window is used to display event information along three axis (XY, XZ, and YZ). Data is viewed when Secondary data is selected in the General Configuration dialog box, Connections tab.

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Table 3 LTS2005 Toolbar Button Functions (Continued) Button Function Zoom all—Click to display all lightning currently displayed in your Licensed Data Region.

Predefined zooms—Click to display the Predefined Zooms dialog box.

Map grid—Click to display the Map Grid over Area Map. Click again to disable Map Grid.

Histogram—Click to display the Histogram in a portion of the Area Map. Click again to disable the Histogram.

Scale bar—Displays the LTS2005 Scale Bar. Click again to disable Scale Bar. The map scale automatically adjusts with the zoom level, and reflects the units of measure selected.

Proportional fonts—Displays proportional symbols (fonts) whose display size is proportional to the strength of the lightning event. Click again to disable Proportional Fonts.

Legend—Click to display the Legend over the Area Map. Click again to disable the Legend.

Replay—Click to display the Replay dialog box. Click again to close the Replay dialog box

Vaisala logo

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Status Bar

The LTS2005 Status bar provides status information at a glance. Depending upon the mode, the Status bar changes color, displays counts of lightning data, and provides information on communications status. Table 4 below describes Status bar panels.

Real-Time Mode

- During real-time display mode, the words Real-Time are displayed in the LTS2005 Status bar.

Table 4 Status Bar Information Panel Function

A Current date and Time (mm:dd:yyyy) (hh:mm:ss) B Latitude and longitude of cursor C Total visible lightning count of displayed region D IC lightning count of displayed region E CG+ lightning count of displayed region F CG- lightning count of displayed region G Mode: Real-Time, Replay or HotKey (see HotKey Replay on page 251) H Communications status (color indicates status) Detailed information pertaining to the selection is displayed when you hover the mouse over it. See section Understanding LTS2005 Communications on page 77 for details.

Standard Replay Mode

- When replaying archived data, the Status bar changes to blue. - The words Replay mode are displayed in the Communications status panel of the Status bar. - Information types provided in the Status bar during Replay are the same as when in Real-Time mode. The information displayed in the Status bar reflects the actual replay data.

Figure 10 Status Bar—Replay Mode

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HotKey Replay Mode

- When using HotKeys to replay data, the Status bar changes to blue. - During HotKey replay mode the words HotKey Replay xx minutes are displayed in the Communications status panel of the Status bar. - Information types provided in the Status bar during the replay are the same as when in Real-Time mode. The information displayed in the Status bar reflects the actual replay data.

Figure 11 Status Bar—HotKey Replay Mode

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Alarms Dialog Box

The Alarms dialog box is used to define an Alert Condition, or conditions, for a selected Warning Area.

An Alert refers to a triggered condition for a Warning Area, or areas.

Alert conditions are defined by one or more of the following:

- Selected area of concern (Warning Area). - Type of events that trigger the alert status (IC, CG, Core, Cells and/or ETA). - When the Alarm dialog box is displayed, current settings and definitions are viewable. Information displayed in the tabs show you the current state, selections, and relative values of items associated with the selected tab. Any options not available to you are disabled. - Each Warning Area has a timer independent of others. The purpose of the timer is to clear an alert after a user-defined time period has passed with no Alert criteria. The time resolution for clearing Alerts is one-second.

To display the Alarms dialog box:

Method one:

1. From the LTS2005 Main menu, select Tools > Configuration. The Enter Password dialog box displays. 2. If prompted, enter your password. 3. Click OK to proceed. The General Configuration dialog box displays. 4. Click the General tab.

5. In the Alarms panel, click . The Alarms dialog box displays (Figure 12 below).

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Figure 12 Alarms Dialog Box—Note Warning Areas

Method two:

1. From the LTS2005 Main menu, select Tools > Alarm Configuration. The Enter Password dialog box displays. 2. If prompted, enter your password. 3. Click OK to proceed. The Alarms dialog box displays. Table 5 below describes Alarms dialog box functions and actions.

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Table 5 Alarms Dialog Box—Functions Panel Column, Field Or Button Purpose

WA Displays list of configured Warning Areas. When a Warning Area is selected from the list the configuration settings can be viewed. Enabled Indicates if the Warning Area is active or inactive. Name Configured Warning Area name. Time (sec) Length of time a Warning Area remains in Alert. Visible Indicates if Warning Area is displayed over the Area Map. Beep A check mark indicates the selected Warning Area will emit an audible tone from the PC when in Alert. Sound A check mark indicates a configured sound file will play when the selected Warning Area is in Alert. CG Indicates a Warning Area Alert state will be triggered by cloud to ground events. IC Indicates A Warning Area Alert state will be triggered by intra- cloud events. Core Indicates a Warning Area Alert state will be triggered by a core touching the area. Cell Indicates a Warning Area Alert state will be triggered by a cell touching the area. ETA Indicates a Warning Area Alert state will be triggered by the estimated time of arrival of a core or a cell on the area.

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Table 5 Alarms Dialog Box—Functions (Continued) Panel Column, Field Or Button Purpose

Enabled Checking enables the selected Warning Area. Use sound Checking directs LTS2005 to play a selected sound file when the selected Warning Area goes In Alert. Visible Checking makes the selected Warning Area visible over the Area Map. Beep on alert Checking directs LTS2005 to emit a PC beep when the selected Warning Area goes In Alert. Alert duration time [sec] Enter a value between 1 and 3600. This defines the time period in which the selected Warning Area remains In Alert. ETA Lead time [min] Enter value between 1 and 60 and is the maximum lead time for an ETA Warning. Example: When the value is set to 30, and LTS2005 has calculated a cell to intersect a Warning Area in 31 or more minutes, LTS2005 does nothing. However, if LTS2005 calculates the cell will intersect the Warning Area in 30 minutes or less, the Warning Area goes into an ETA Warning state.

ETA sound Displays the path and filename of the sound file used for ETA Warning when Use sound is checked. The default path and filename are displayed in the example below. Alert sound Displays the path and filename of the sound file used for In Alert when Use sound is checked. The default path and filename are displayed in the example below.

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Table 5 Alarms Dialog Box—Functions (Continued) Panel Column, Field Or Button Purpose Clear sound Displays the path and filename of the sound file used for a Clear when Use sound is checked. The default path and filename are displayed in the example below.

Triggered by The option or options selected are used to Trigger an Alarm. Click to access/change the sound file used when Use sound is checked. Click to test the sound file used when Use sound is checked.

Saves the current modifications to the configuration and leaves the dialog box displayed. Saves the current modifications to the configuration and closes the dialog box. Closes the dialog box without saving or changing any modifications.

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Inspector Window

The Inspector window allows you to get information on selected lightning data. Items in the Inspector dialog box can be customized in the General Configuration dialog box, Identify tab.

NOTE Inspector is displayed only when viewing data selected with the Identify tool.

To display the Inspector window:

1. In the LTS2005 toolbar, click . The cursor goes into Identify

mode . 2. Left-click on an event. The Inspector window displays. 3. If more than one event was selected (as indicated in the top-most line of the dialog box), use the drop-down list box, and Up and Down arrows, to select an individual event. 4. Obtain pertinent information from the Inspector window (or the drop-down list box as needed). 5. Click the Windows Close button to complete the operation and return to the Display.

Figure 13 Inspector Window—Parameters

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Once an event is displayed over the Area Map, you select that event to display Inspector which offers more specific information regarding the selected event. The types of information provided by Inspector changes, depending upon the event type selected.

For information on available Inspector parameters, see Appendix B, Inspector Window Parameters, on page 269.

Customizing Inspector Parameters

List item information provided by Inspector can be customized as needed. For a listing of user-selectable parameters, see Appendix B, Inspector Window Parameters, on page 269.

1. From the LTS2005 Main menu, select Tools > Configuration, the General Configuration dialog box displays. 2. Click the Identify tab. 3. Select from each list (as needed for your Display) a parameter you want displayed by the Inspector dialog box. When an item is selected, the item (parameter) displays in the Name text box, and the unit of measurement associated with the selected parameter is displayed in the Unit text box. 4. Select Visible to make the item visible in the Inspector window. 5. Click Save & Exit to save the changes and close the General Configuration dialog box.

NOTE The Vaisala Central Analyzer (Total Lightning Package or TLP) uses all six Discrimination values (0 through 5), Type 97 uses IC and CG data and Discrimination values of 0 and 4, Type 96 uses CG data only and a Discrimination value of 4. The Discrimination value can be obtained by viewing the archive file of an event.

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No Lightning Found by Inspector

If you select an area where no lightning data is detected, a message to that effect displays.

-Click OK to close the message box, and return to the Display.

Figure 14 Nothing Found by Inspector

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Monitor Window

The Monitor window displays a histogram of the count of IC and CG activity for each time period in a selected Warning Area, separated into three unique columns. A Warning Area is selected for monitoring by using the Area drop-down list in the Monitor window. Refer to Figure 15 on page 38 for detail.

Lightning counts are distributed along the vertical axis (Y-axis), while time is distributed along the horizontal axis (X-axis). By default, Positive cloud-to-ground counts are displayed in a red column; Negative cloud-to-ground counts are displayed in a green column; while Intra-cloud counts are displayed in a blue column. The count for the represented time period is displayed at the top of the column. Total lightning counts are displayed at the bottom left of the Monitor window.

The time Monitor, used to distribute lightning data, is set by the Time- period length selection in the Map Legend dialog box, the Monitor window automatically adjusts in size depending on the total amount of lightning detected for the time period.

The Monitor window allows you to:

- Select an Area (Warning Area) to monitor. - Determine total Positive and Negative CG counts based on time for a selected Area - Determine total IC counts based on time for a selected Area. - Determine Total counts for a selected Area.

To display the Monitor window:

1. From the LTS2005 Main menu, select View > Monitor. The Monitor displays over the Area Map. 2. Using the Area drop-down list box, select the Warning Area you want monitored. 3. Observe the Total counts tally for an indication of the Total lightning counts (bottom left) for the selected area, or above each column for the selected time period. Total counts for Positive cloud-to-ground, Negative cloud-to- ground, and Intra-cloud are displayed as well (above Total counts).

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4. Click the Windows Close button to complete the operation and return to the Display.

Figure 15 Monitor Window—Examples

In the examples above, note counts for Intra-cloud versus Intra-cloud lightning.

NOTE Counts are determined over six time zones, and mirrors the color- coded time periods used in the Histogram and map Legend. For example, if a time zone is set to 10 minutes, counts are determined over six ten-minute periods, with each bar of the histogram representing a 10-minute time period.

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Time-Lapse Histogram

The Histogram is a colorized bar graph of the frequency and distribution of events. The height of a bar is proportional to the number of events displayed for that time period, and represents all the lightning on the Display. All events in the authorized data region are represented, not just those of the displayed area. Each color represents the total IC and CG lightning for that time period. Refer to Figure 16 below for detail.

Figure 16 Time-lapse histogram

- The Histogram can be repositioned at any of the four corners of the Display. - The data presented is relative to the lightning events on the Display. - The colors displayed in the Histogram mimic those selected in the Legend dialog box. - The Histogram automatically changes to a line graph when in Cells or Density mode.

To display the Time-Lapse Histogram:

Legend color = "n" minute segments; where n = the value of the Time Period length defined in the Legend drop-down. The right-most column is the current "n" minute period.

Method One

- From the LTS2005 toolbar, click . The Histogram displays in the lower left corner of the Area Map (default location).

Method Two

- From the LTS2005 Main menu, select View > Time Lapse Histogram. The Histogram displays in the lower left corner of the Area Map (default location).

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Relocating the Histogram

By default, the Histogram is located in the lower left-most portion of the Display. However, you can change the position by performing the following:

1. Place the mouse cursor inside the Histogram. 2. Right-click the mouse. The Change Position button displays as illustrated in Figure 17 below. 3. Left-click the mouse on Change Position. The Histogram changes position to the upper left-most portion of the Display. 4. Repeat Steps 1 through 3 until you relocate the Histogram where you want it to be.

Figure 17 Relocating the Histogram

NOTE With each consecutive click, the Histogram is repositioned in a clock- wise manner, and is always positioned in a corner of the Display. It cannot be positioned in the middle of the Display.

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Viewing a Line Graph of Histogram Data

1. Place the mouse cursor inside the Histogram. 2. Right-click the mouse. The Change Position button displays. 3. Click Swap. The line graph displays as illustrated in Figure 18 below.

Figure 18 Viewing the Histogram as a Line Graph

NOTE The Line Graph Histogram always reflects the real-time data count in the licensed area. Zooming in and out and Replay have no effect on this count.

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System and Application Configuration

Determining Your Licensed Data Region

1. From the LTS2005 Main menu, select Tools > Configuration. The Enter Password dialog box displays. 2. If prompted, enter your password. 3. Click OK to proceed. The General Configuration dialog box displays. 4. Click the General tab. 5. In the Licenses panel, observe and note the Latitude range coordinates under Data region. 6. In the Licenses panel, observe and note the Longitude range coordinates under Data region. 7. Click Cancel to complete the operation and return to the Display.

Figure 19 Licensed Data Region

NOTE All enabled licensed options are displayed in the Licenses panel.

License File

The License file has a default extension of .ini, and is located at (Windows 7 may have a different path): C:\Program Files\LTS2005\license.

The License file maintains and defines:

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- The coordinates of your authorized data region (data limits) for your subscription. - Licensed LTS2005 options: - ASCII output - Automatic Image Save function (when enabled) - View Density data (when enabled) - View Cells data (when enabled) Licensed options are displayed in the General Configuration dialog box, Others tab, Licenses panel.

Figure 20 Viewing Licensed Options

NOTE All items listed in this panel must be licensed. Unlicensed options do not display in the Licenses panel.

Password Protection

Some LTS2005 functions are protected from alteration by using password-protection. Configuration of the Display cannot be altered without first being granted permission to do so by LTS2005. Turning off the Display, changing Configuration files or hardware schemes by accident, is not possible with password-protected functions. The Enter Password dialog box displays whenever a protected function is accessed. No password is defined when running LTS2005 for the first time.

Entering the correct password in the Password dialog box, permits the user to:

- Protect Configuration files - Change Configuration files - Modify Warning Areas - Access other protected functions

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Password-Protected Functions

The system requires you to provide a password when changing any of the configuration information listed below:

- Configuration - Load Configuration - Save Configuration - Save Configuration As - General Configuration Changing passwords Alarm configuration Connections - Modifying Warning Areas - Quitting the application

Entering a Password

The Enter Password dialog box automatically displays whenever a protected function is being accessed.

1. With the Enter Password dialog box displayed, enter your password in the text box. 2. Click OK to proceed.

Changing the Password

1. From the LTS2005 Main menu, select Tools > Configuration. The Password dialog box displays. 2. If prompted, enter your password. 3. Click OK to proceed. The General Configuration dialog box displays. 4. Click the General tab. 5. Click Change Password. The Enter Old Password dialog box displays.

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6. If prompted, enter the old password in the text box. 7. Click OK to proceed. The Enter New Password dialog box displays. 8. If prompted, enter the new password in the text box. 9. Click OK to proceed. The Reenter New Password dialog box displays. 10. Reenter the new password in the text box. 11. When the message displays confirming the password change, click OK.

NOTE Using a "blank", or no password, for the New Password, removes all password pop-ups until a new non-blank password is entered.

Lost Password

In the event the password is lost or otherwise compromised, contact the Help desk as described in Getting Technical Support on page 12.

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System Messages and Bulletins

Locating System Bulletins

Bulletins have a default extension of .pws, and are archived at (Windows 7 may have a different path): C:\Program Files\LTS2005\LTS2005_archive\BULLETINS.

Viewing System Bulletins and Messages

You may sometimes receive a bulletin from Central. The incoming message is displayed over the LTS2005 Display, and is then archived automatically.

- Close the Bulletin message using the Windows Close button. - You can view bulletins at a later date by locating the file and double-clicking it. The file can be displayed using Notepad, or other configured text editor. - The date appears in the Bulletin title bar (yyyy:mm:dd), while the time is displayed within the file text (hh:mm:ss:ms).

Figure 21 Messages and Bulletins Window

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Information Window

The Information window, as illustrated in Figure 22 below, displays information sent to you by the LTS2005 system. Information types include:

- Warning Areas In Alert - Warning Areas in Clear -ETAs - Changes to Alerts status of configured Warning Areas - Core on Area - Error messages (Email)

three red dots— Message Type area

Figure 22 Information Window—Title Bar

Three red dots appear in the Title Bar where the Information message type displays. Once Information is received, the message type is displayed briefly in the Title Bar, replacing the three red dots. Refer to Figure 22 above, and Figure 23 below for detail.

Figure 23 Information Window—Information Type

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LTS2005 Display Modes

Three LTS2005 Display modes are available for viewing specific data. The Map Legend and Information window adopt and display information types based on the Display mode selected.

Display modes are discussed in the following pages.

To select a display mode:

Method one:

- In the LTS2005 tool bar, select one of three Display mode buttons. Refer to Table 6 below. Table 6 LTS2005 Display Modes Button Mode Click to put Display in Discharges Mode—see Figure 24 on page 49.

Click to put Display in Density Mode—see Figure 25 on page 50.

Click to put Display in Cells Mode—see Figure 26 on page 51.

Method two: - From the LTS2005 Main menu select the View > Display > xxxx menu item.

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Discharges Mode

In Discharges mode lightning data are divided in two categories; IC (Intra-Cloud) and CG (Cloud-to-Ground).

- IC lightning data is defined mainly by its position (latitude and longitude) and associated time of occurrence (time resolution in 0.1 ms). IC discharges can be composed of one (displayed over the Area Map as single dots) or more IC strokes (displayed over the Area Map as broken lines). - CG lightning data is defined mainly by its position, time of occurrence, and associated electrical parameters (rise time, decay time, current, etc.). CG discharges can be composed of one (return stroke) or several CG strokes (return stroke followed by subsequent strokes).

Figure 24 Event Data and Map Legend—Discharges Mode

For information on the map Legend in Discharges mode, see The Map Legend in Discharges Mode on page 119.

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Density Mode

In Density mode, the LTS2005 Display software calculates, in real- time, the number of discharges per square kilometer (nautical mile or mile as defined), per minute.

LTS2005:

- Calculates a matrix number of lightning per square kilometer every xx minutes [refresh period]. - Sums these matrixes during xx minutes [calculation period] - Displays the cumulative matrix (resolution of displayed matrix can be greater or equal to 1 sq. km).

Figure 25 Event Data and Map Legend—Density mode

For information on the map Legend in Density mode, see The Map Legend in Cells Mode on page 123.

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Cells Mode

LTS2005 software calculates, in real-time, thunderstorm cell contour and related core (the most intense area of cell). Color-coding permits identification of the most severe area of thunderstorm. By analyzing cell motion history, cell velocity is calculated and displayed, permitting thunderstorm cell now-casting.

NOTE You must be licensed to enable this feature.

LTS2005:

- Identifies cells from cumulative density. - Identifies and tracks cells and cell cores. - Calculates the average value of cells and cell cores (nb of lightning per sq. km). - Displays cells and cell cores according to their average value.

Figure 26 Event Data and Map Legend—Cells Mode

For information on the map Legend, in Cells mode, see The Map Legend in Cells Mode on page 123.

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LTS2005 Time (UTC)

Time and Discharges

Time in almost all meteorological and hydro meteorological products is expressed in a standard known as Coordinated Universal Time (UTC); formerly known as Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) or Zulu Time. Midnight (0000 UTC) starts the 24 hour clock at the zero meridian. Lightning data is located, received, displayed, and archived in the UTC time format.

Map Legend Time

In Figure 27 below, the map Legend indicates all data plotted on the Display occurred between 09/12/2008 21:25:00 to 09/13/2008. Data plotted at and after 00:24:20 is excluded.

Figure 27 Date/Time Example

NOTE The date and time displayed in the Status bar are exclusive. Any data on the Display occurred prior to the date and time in the Status bar.

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LTS2005 Symbol Fonts

Next Font Command

The system is capable of displaying event symbols in one of three forms.

1. From the LTS2005 Main menu, select View > Next Font. 2. Select one of the following font types: - Hollow -Solid - Enclosed -Dot With each consecutive selection of this command, the Display cycles through one of three preset fonts (symbols): solid, hollow, and enclosed event symbols. See Table 7 below for examples. Table 7 LTS2005 Symbol Font Types Hollow Solid Enclosed Dot

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Proportional Fonts

The system is capable of displaying proportional event symbols (fonts) whose display size is proportional to the strength of the lightning event. See Figure 28 on page 55 for an example where symbol size is relative to event intensity; and Figure 29 on page 56 for regular font symbols.

To enable Proportional fonts:

- In the LTS2005 toolbar, click , the fonts (event symbols) will change in size relative to event strength.

To disable Proportional fonts:

- Click again to disable proportional fonts.

To configure Proportional font size:

1. From the LTS2005 Main menu, select Tools > Configuration. The General Configuration dialog box displays. 2. Click the Others tab. 3. In the Miscellaneous panel, Proportional Font Intensity Max text box, enter a value (80 kA is the default).

The smaller the value, the larger the proportional symbol effect becomes.

The category is divided up into five font sizes, with max representing the largest font size. If 80 kA is entered in the text box, the smallest font represents lightning data in the 0-20kA range; then the next larger font size is used for 20-40kA range, then the next larger font size is used for 40-60kA range, and so on for the 60-80kA range; while the maximum font size is used for the >80kA data range.

Table 8 below provides a chart describing font size versus intensity. Table 8 Proportional Font Categories Category Font Size 0 to 10, or -0 to -10kA Smallest font size 10 to 20, or -10 to -20kA Next to smallest font size 20 to 30, or -20 to -30kA Next larger font size 30 to 40, or -30 to -40kA Next to the largest font size 40 to 50+, or -40 to -50+kA Largest font size

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NOTE Proportional font size is defined in the Proportional font intensity max text box, General Configuration > Others tab.

Figure 28 LTS2005 Proportional Font Symbols

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Figure 29 LTS2005 Regular Font Symbols

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General Configuration Dialog Box

You can configure the LTS2005 Display, Alarm parameters, maps and layers, data sources, Density parameters, Identify parameters, Email, ASCII output, and associated options using this dialog box. Select one of five tabs, to view, change, or define Display parameters.

To display the General Configuration dialog box:

1. From the LTS2005 Main menu, select Tools > Configuration. The Password dialog box displays. 2. If prompted, enter your password. 3. Click OK to proceed. The General Configuration dialog box displays (Figure 30 below) (Windows 7 may have a different Configuration and Archive path).

Figure 30 General Configuration Dialog Box

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Three buttons (common on most LTS2005 dialog boxes) located at the bottom of the dialog box let you control how modifications are handled. A description of the buttons and their associated functions are described in Table 9 below.

Table 9 Common Buttons Button Purpose Saves the current modifications to the configuration and leaves the dialog box displayed. Saves the current modifications to the configuration and closes the dialog box. Closes the dialog box without saving or changing any modifications.

NOTE When displayed, current settings and definitions are viewable. If an option is grayed-out, it is either not available, or the wrong password may have been entered.

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General Tab

The General tab (Figure 31 below) contains fields and options for selecting and defining various configuration parameters pertaining to:

- LTS2005 System configuration and licensing (Windows 7 may have a different Configuration and Archive path) - Archive path location and functions - Map projections and geosets - Alarm configuration

Figure 31 General Tab

NOTE If an option is grayed-out, it is either not available, or the wrong password may have been entered.

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To display the General Tab:

1. From the LTS2005 Main menu, select Tools > Configuration. The Password dialog box displays. 2. If prompted, enter your password. 3. Click OK to proceed. The General Configuration dialog box displays. 4. Click the General tab.

Table 10 below describes General tab panels and functions (Windows 7 may have a different Configuration and Archive path):

Table 10 General Tab—Functions Panel Field Or Button Purpose

Configuration Displays the current Configuration filename filename being used. Click to change the password.

Licenses Licensed options Lists enabled licensed LTS2005 options. Latitude range Displays the Latitude range of the enabled Data and ASCII Output regions. Longitude range Displays the Longitude range of the enabled Data and ASCII Output regions.

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Table 10 General Tab—Functions (Continued) Panel Field Or Button Purpose Archive Archive path Displays the path where Archive files are kept. Enter a new path to change paths. Backup path Displays the path where Backup files are kept. Enter a new path to change paths. Limit number of archived files Check to limit the number of files kept in the Archive directory. Limited by available free hard drive space. Number of days kept in archive Number of days that an Archive file is maintained in the Archive directory. Limited by available free hard drive space.

Map Distance units Select a unit of measure for units of distance. This selection is used for all calculations and dialog boxes. Click to display the Choose Projection dialog box; allowing you to change map projections. Click to display the Geoset dialog box; allowing you to change map geosets. Click to display the Layer Control dialog box; allowing you to change and configure map layers. Click to display the Region Style dialog box to set/define the styles used for Clear, In Alert, and ETA warnings when displayed over the Area Map.

Alarm Click to display the Alarms dialog box, permitting you to define Alarm configuration parameters.

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Connections Tab

The Connections tab (Figure 32 below) contains fields and options for selecting and defining connection parameters:

- Define which type of Central data for LTS2005 to use (LP Type 96, LP Type 97, or Secondary) - Define the Primary source using the named Server or IP address of the data source (terminal server connected to a satellite receiver, a PuTTy connection, VLDS, or an LP/CP) - Port on Primary source where data can be found - Define grouping parameters for IC events

Figure 32 Connections Tab

NOTE If an option is grayed-out, it is either not available, or the wrong password may have been entered.

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To display the Connections Tab:

1. From the LTS2005 Main menu, select Tools > Configuration. The Password dialog box displays. 2. If prompted, enter your password. 3. Click OK to proceed. The General Configuration dialog box displays. 4. Click the Connections tab.

NOTE If an option is grayed-out, it is either not available, or the wrong password may have been entered.

Table 11 below describes Connections tab panels and functions. Table 11 Connections Tab—Functions Panel Field Or button Function

Central Data type Select the type of data input for the LTS2005 system.

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Table 11 Connections Tab—Functions (Continued) Panel Field Or button Function Primary source Define the following Connection items: Host IP number (data source), Host port number, NLDN address. NOTE: You may want to gather the information above from IT personnel prior to beginning the Connections configuration. The text entered in the Site name text box allows you to add an extension to archive files. For example, if you enter BOS in the text box, all archived files would display the BOS extension. If the text box is left blank, the default extension of .bin is used. This is useful in tagging a file to easily determine its origin. A six-character maximum is enforced. NOTE: Enter no more than three letters in the text box. Grouping Select from None or Branch. This option is available only if Secondary data is selected in the Data Type panel. None–No attempt is made by LTS2005 software to connect the nodes in IC events. Branch–LTS2005 software connects IC nodes with a line or lines; depicting the structure of the cloud flash using the values entered in DT Max and Dist. Max. DT Max This option is available only if Secondary data is selected in the Data Type panel. Default is 5000. The value entered sets the time delta between events. The system will not attempt to connect two nodes in a flash that have a time delta greater (in milliseconds) than the value entered. NOTE: Vaisala recommends that you accept and use the default value, as this value has been validated by Vaisala research engineers. Dist. Max This option is available only if Secondary data is selected in the Data Type panel. Default is 12 kilometers. The value entered sets the maximum distance between two nodes of a flash. The system will not attempt to connect two nodes that are farther apart (in distance) than the value entered. NOTE: Vaisala recommends that you accept and use the default value, as this value has been validated by Vaisala research engineers.

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Density Tab

By selecting the Density tab (Figure 33 below), you can view, define, or elect to change, the following parameters:

- Position and size of the Density cell - Density Mesh properties - Density calculation time - Cell properties

Figure 33 Density Tab

NOTE The settings defined here are tied directly to the Legend when in either Cells or Density mode.

NOTE If an option is grayed-out, it is either not available, or the wrong password may have been entered.

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To display the Density Tab:

1. From the LTS2005 Main menu, select Tools > Configuration. The Password dialog box displays. 2. If prompted, enter your password. 3. Click OK to proceed. The General Configuration dialog box displays. 4. Click the Density tab.

Table 12 below describes Density tab panels and functions. Table 12 Density Tab—Functions Panel Field Or button Function

Position and Size Center latitude Enter the coordinates (lat.) of the center of the area you want to perform density and cell calculations for, or your authorized area. Center longitude Enter the coordinates (lon.) of the center of the area you want to perform density and cell calculations for, or your authorized area. Width in kilometers Enter a value representing the approximate width of the area you want to perform density and cell calculations for, or your authorized area. Height in kilometers Enter a value representing the approximate height of the area you want to perform density and cell calculations for, or your authorized area. Layer height Enter a value between 500 to 10000.

Mesh properties Use flash multiplicity Select to use multiple flash in mesh property calculations. When receiving Flash data and the Multiplicity option is selected, the number of strokes for the flash are indicated. When this option is selected the stroke density rather than flash density is calculated. Square side size Enter size of the grid boxes used in calculating Density values.

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Table 12 Density Tab—Functions (Continued) Panel Field Or button Function Unit Select the unit of measurement for square sides used in calculating Density values.

Calculation time Refresh period length Enter a value between 10 to 3600, in seconds. This defines how often Density values are recalculated. Example: In the illustration above, values entered force LTS2005 to recalculate every 60 seconds, and the calculations include the last 10-minutes (10 X 60) of Density data. Number of refresh Enter a value of 1 or greater. This defines the periods number of refresh periods used in recalculations. Example one: In the illustration above, the values entered in the text boxes, force LTS2005 to recalculate Density values every 60-seconds. Calculations would include the last 10-minutes (10 X 60) of Density data. Example two: If the values entered were 120 for the RPL, and the NRP were 10, this would force LTS2005 to recalculate Density values every 120- seconds. Calculations would include the last 20- minutes (120 X 10) of Density data.

Cells Properties Speed min. Enter a value of 1 or greater. Once a cell core estimated motion vector reaches the speed value entered here, a vector and label indicating the direction of core movement and speed is plotted on the Display. The value is tied to Mesh Properties units.

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Table 12 Density Tab—Functions (Continued) Panel Field Or button Function Cell threshold Enter a value between .0001 to 50.0. This value is directly tied to Mesh properties and refresh periods. The value represents the Number of Events divided by the Square Side Size per minute. If the value in a density box is equal to or exceeds this value, it is considered a cell. NOTE Default values are recommended. 0.06 for total lightning VHF network, 0.002 for LF network strokes (or flash + Use flash multiplicity) and 0.0008 for LF network flashes. Core threshold Enter a value between .001 to 50.0. This value is directly tied to Mesh properties and Refresh periods. The value represents the Number of Events divided by the Square Side Size per minute. If the value in a density box is equal to or exceeds this value, it is considered a cell core. NOTE Default values are recommended. 0.6 for total lightning VHF network, 0.02 for LF network strokes (or flash + Use flash multiplicity) and 0.008 for LF network flashes.

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Identify Tab

By selecting the Identify tab (Figure 34 below), you can view, define, or elect to change Identify reporting parameters listed by Inspector for the following lightning data:

- IC lightning - IC node - CG lightning - Total lightning

Figure 34 Identify Tab

NOTE If an option is grayed-out, it is either not available, or an incorrect password may have been entered.

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To display the Identity Tab:

1. From the LTS2005 Main menu, select Tools > Configuration. The Password dialog box displays. 2. If prompted, enter your password. 3. Click OK to proceed. The General Configuration dialog box displays. 4. Click the Identify tab.

Defining Inspector Window Parameters

1. Open the General Configuration dialog box. 2. Click the Identify tab. 3. Based on the type of lightning data you have selected in the General Configuration dialog box, General tab, select a parameter listed under the lightning data type list box. The selected parameter name displays in the Name text box. The unit of measurement used by Inspector for the parameter selected, is displayed in the Unit text box. 4. Check the Visible check box to make the parameter visible in the Inspector window. 5. Repeat steps 1 through 3 until you have selected all the parameters you want displayed by Inspector for a particular lightning data type. 6. Click Save & Exit to save the changes, and to return to the Display.

NOTE For a comprehensive listing of available parameter types refer to Inspector Window Parameters on page 269.

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Others Tab

By selecting the Others tab you can view, define, or elect to change, the following parameters:

- ASCII output (licensed feature) - Email notification on ETA or Warning Areas - Miscellaneous items including: Sounds, time display, new event highlight, proportional font intensity values, etc. - Save image paths (Windows 7 may have a different path), format, and time period (licensed feature).

Figure 35 Others Tab

NOTE If an option is grayed-out, it is either not available, or the wrong password may have been entered.

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To display the Others Tab:

1. From the LTS2005 Main menu, select Tools > Configuration. The Password dialog box displays. 2. If prompted, enter your password. 3. Click OK to proceed. The General Configuration dialog box displays. 4. Click the Others tab.

Table 13 below describes Others tab panels and functions. Table 13 Others Tab—Functions Panel Field Or Button Purpose

ASCII output Allows ASCII output from the LTS2005 system (licensed feature) Enabled Check to enable ASCII output feature Listening port Enter port number. This is the Port that the LTS2005 will place the ASCII data. Format US format is only for the Northern hemisphere. World format includes time precision to ms (.0000 sec.); and adds a space for an '-' symbol in front of the latitude number. This permits data in the Southern hemisphere to be reported

Email notification Permits Email notification from the LTS2005 system. You must first configure the LTS2005 Email in this tab before attempting to configure Email notification on ETA or Warning Areas in the Area Definition dialog box. SMTP host Enter IP address of SMTP host Address Enter the return address for LTS2005 Email. Must be of a valid format, recognized by the SMTP server. Username Enter Username for SMTP host if the SMTP host requires one Password Enter password for SMTP host if the SMTP host requires one

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Table 13 Others Tab—Functions (Continued) Panel Field Or Button Purpose

Miscellaneous Coordinate in DMS Check to enable lat. and lon. data to be displayed in degrees, minutes, and seconds. If unchecked, lat. and lon. data is displayed in decimal degrees (default). Display UTC time Check to display data in UTC time, converted from local PC time. Unchecked displays data in local PC time. New event highlight Check to enable LTS2005 to highlight the latest event on the Display. New event sound Check to enable a sound to be played when LTS2005 places a new event on the Display. Proportional font The system is capable of displaying proportional intensity max event symbols (fonts) whose display size is proportional to the intensity of the lightning event. Enter a value up to 1000kA. The larger font size is used to represent the value entered. Archive density (NetCDF) Check to create a new NetCDF file based on your netcdf.ini properties file and the settings in the Density tab. A new file is created with every Refresh Period. 3D tool Section–Selecting allows user to draw a wide line along a region of interest when selecting 3D lightning data for viewing using the Section3D window. The width of the line is set in the Section width dialog box. All data captured within the line are displayed. Rectangle–Selecting allows the user to draw a rectangle surrounding a region of interest when selecting 3D lightning data for viewing using the Section3D window. All data captured within the rectangle are displayed.

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Table 13 Others Tab—Functions (Continued) Panel Field Or Button Purpose

Automatic image Configure the LTS2005 system to automatically save (licensed save a graphic image file of the current LTS2005 feature) Display to a defined location (Windows 7 may have a different path). Enabled Check to enable the Automatic image save option. Period Enter a value between 10 to 3600 in seconds. This defines how often an image is saved to a file. NOTE: This text box is grayed-out when the Auto- cycle zoom synch. option is selected. Format Select: .GIF, .JPEG, .BMP, .TIF, .PNG, or .PS output format. This is the format of the automatically generated image files. Auto-cycle zoom sync. Selecting causes a new screen shot to be taken whenever a predefined zoom cycles. The Auto- cycle zoom and Automatic image save functions are synchronized. Images are saved to the path displayed in the Automatic image save panel. NOTE: When this option is selected, the Period option is grayed-out; avoiding confusion in defining time periods. The time period defined for the Auto- cycle zoom function is overridden when Auto- cycle zoom synch. is selected. Display mode Check Discharges to automatically generate image files when in Density mode. The Automatic image save option must be enabled first.

Check Density to automatically generate image files when in Density mode. The Automatic image save option must be enabled first.

Check Cells to automatically generate image files when in Density mode. The Automatic image save option must be enabled first.

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Table 13 Others Tab—Functions (Continued) Panel Field Or Button Purpose Discharges path & name Saved Discharges image file location. Accept the default, or enter a new location for automatically generated image files. Density path & name Saved Density image file location. Accept the default, or enter a new location for automatically generated image files. Cells path & name Saved Cells image file location. Accept the default, or enter a new location for automatically generated image files. Default recommended. Enter the format to be used when saving image files.

Lat and Lon Boxes—DMS Option

The Area Definition dialog box text and text boxes used to enter Lat. and Lon., will display differently depending on whether the Coordinate in DMS option is selected in the General Configuration > Others tab. See illustration below for detail.

DMS Option Selected DMS Option Not Selected

Figure 36 Selecting the Coordinate in DMS Option

.

NOTE To set custom sounds, ETA Lead Time, and Alert Duration Time, select the Tools > General Configuration menu item; and click .

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CHAPTER 4 UNDERSTANDING LTS2005 COMMUNICATIONS

LTS2005 is configured to gather Central data from the SAFIR detection system (SCM), the National Lightning Detection Network® (U.S. NLDN), and an LP or an CP series Central Processor.

Central Data and Configuration

At startup, LTS2005 seeks and uses Configuration file information. The program then connects to the Central Data stream. If the system is unable to connect to Central you will see a red Status bar. Indicators along the bottom right-most portion of the Status bar show the communications status with Central.

As LTS2005 receives data, it first determines if the data message is complete. If the message is complete, LTS2005 then:

- Parses the message according to its type (Type 96, Type 97 or Secondary), - Checks event coordinates to determine if the data obtained is from a licensed area, - Translates the data into a unique LTS2005 format, - Places the data in a buffer, then - Archives the data Refer to Table 11 on page 63 for greater detail on configuring the Central Data connection.

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To configure the Central Data Connection:

1. Before proceeding, obtain the following information: - Central data type used (LP Type 96, LP Type 97, Secondary) - Primary source Host IP number - Primary source Port number - NLDN address 2. With the General Configuration dialog box displayed, click the Connections tab. 3. In the Central panel, select the Data type your system is using from: LP Type 96 LP Type 97 Secondary

Figure 37 Configuring the Central Connection

4. In the Grouping list box select from None or Branch. This option is available only if Secondary data is selected in the Data Type panel. 5. In the DT Max field enter a value used to set the time delta between events. This option is available only if Secondary data is selected in the Data Type panel. Default is 5000. 6. In the Dist Max. field, enter a value used to define the maximum distance between two nodes of a flash. This option is available only if Secondary data is selected in the Data Type panel. Default is 12.

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7. In the Primary source panel, enter the IP address of the data source in the Host text box. The source IP Port may be a Vaisala Central Analyzer, the VLDS Server provided in the LTS2005 Installation disk, or a PuTTy connection. 8. In the Port text box, enter the port number used by the data source. 9. In the Site name text box enter the name of the site. 10. In the NLDN address text box, enter the NLDN (National Lightning Detection Network) address provided by Vaisala. 11. Click Save & Exit to save the changes and exit the dialog box. Click Save to save the changes, and leave the dialog box displayed.

Determining Communications Status

LTS2005 communications status is displayed by the left-most indictor on the Status bar; the remaining three indicators are not used by LTS2005. Table 14 on page 79 describes colors used by LTS2005:

- View the LTS2005 Status bar located at the bottom right portion of the Display, and note the color displayed in the first node. - Using the indicator color in concert with Table 14 on page 79, ascertain your communications status.

Figure 38 Viewing Communications Status

Figure 38 above indicates that the communications connection is good. Table 14 Determining Communications Status—Indicators Indicator Color Meaning Grey Not installed Green Communications OK Red Problem with connection

To obtain Communications Status detail:

Place and hover the mouse pointer over an indicator. A popup message gives detailed information about the selected connection.

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Configuring Email Notification

1. With the General Configuration displayed, click the Others tab. 2. In the Email notification panel (Figure 39 on page 80), - Enter the IP address of the SMTP Host in the SMTP host text box. - Enter your unique username, in the Username text box. - Enter a properly formatted ([email protected]) and valid Email address in the Address text box. - If prompted, enter the password, in the Password text box. - Click Save & Exit to save the file, close the dialog box, and return to the Display.

Figure 39 Email Notification Panel

NOTE Prior to defining Email notification for Warning Areas, the parameters above must be completed. SMTP Server configurations vary. Username and passwords may not be required, check with your System Administrator for proper configuration parameters for your SMTP Server.

Removing a Name From the Email Addresses List Box

1. With the Email configuration dialog box displayed, select the address you want removed from the Email addresses list box. 2. Click Remove. The address is removed from the list box.

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Renaming an Email Address

1. With the Email configuration dialog box displayed, select the address you want renamed from the Email addresses list box. The address displays in the text box directly above the Add and Remove buttons. 2. Click Rename. 3. Enter the new address. 4. Click Add to add the renamed address to the Email addresses list box. 5. Click OK to save the configuration, close the dialog box, and return to the Display.

Testing an Email Address Used By the System

1. With the Email configuration dialog box displayed, select the address(es) you want to test from the Email addresses list box. The address displays in the text box directly above the Add and Remove buttons. 2. Click Test Addresses. The system sends a test message to the recipient.

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Figure 40 Configuring Email

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CHAPTER 5 LTS2005 SYSTEM FILES

System Archives

You can view archived files by using either the Replay function, where lightning data is replayed over the Area Map, or by using the Data Viewer to view the data in ASCII format.

Archive Specifics

- The first time the LTS2005 application is run, an archive structure is created in the windows application data directory. - The default location of the Archive files is WINDOWS_APPDATA_DIR\VAISALA\LTS2005\LTS2005_archive\ You can select a new file location in the General Configuration dialog box, General tab. - The system automatically archives all user data, including bad data, and Alarm incidents. - For event time: one file per day starting at 00:00:00 UTC and ending at 00:00:00 UTC, next day excluded, is kept. - LTS2005 automatically deletes the oldest data if the Limit Number of Archive Files option is checked in the General Configuration dialog box, General tab. Therefore it is recommended that you back up needed files. - Alarm information Log files are saved on a daily basis; therefore, under normal conditions there is one Log file maintained per day. - The number of days that files are maintained is user configured. - Replay functions permit the replay of archived lightning data.

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- For Central and Density data, the system saves an archive file for each day. You enter the number of maximum days you want saved in the Number of days kept in Archive text box.

NOTE WINDOWS_APPDATA_DIR refers to C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data in Windows XP and refers to C:\ProgramData in Windows Vista or 7.

ALARM Archive LTS2005 builds and maintains a daily ALARM archive file. The file is a record of the Alarm state; including indicators of when Warning Areas go into an Alert state and when they clear. If either the Warning Area Alarm is acknowledged (to disable or mute the alarm), the action is recorded.

For information on viewing an ALARM archive file, see Locating and Viewing Archived ALARM Text Files on page 85.

NOTE Before the LTS2005 application opens, it reads all archived files. Because archived files can be quite large, it may sometimes take awhile for the application to start.

Central Archive—(CEN) - Central data is archived in a unique LTS2005 binary file format; common to SAFIR, Type 96 and Type 97 data.

Cells - Cell information is not archived.

Density Density data is archived in a unique format common only to LTS2005.

NOTE Currently, there is no method to determine if the coordinates or report time are incorrect, except in the case when a stroke is received with a time that is later than the current time.

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Locating and Viewing Archived ALARM Text Files

Archived ALARM files must be viewed using Notepad or your configured text editor. Refer to Figure 41 below, and Table 15 on page 85 for detail.

1. Using Windows Explorer, locate the ALARM archive directory. The default location for archived files is WINDOWS_APPDATA_DIR\VAISALA\LTS2005\LTS2005_archive \ALARM. 2. Click the ALARM folder to display all the files in the folder. 3. Double-click on the file you want to display. The file displays. 4. When finished reviewing the data, click the Windows Close button to close the file, and return to Explorer.

Figure 41 ALARM Text File

Table 15 below describes ALARM file properties Table 15 ALARM Text File—Fields Field Purpose

A ALARM filename (yyyy:mm:dd:hhhh) B Time (hh:mm:ss:1/100sec.) C Warning Area (configured name) D Warning Area identification number E Message

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Locating and Viewing Log Files

Log files, as illustrated in Figure 42 below, assist in troubleshooting problems with your LTS2005 application, should they arise. The files generally do not need to be saved for longer than one week if you are experiencing no problems. Delete the files as needed, and at your discretion.

The Log file has a default extension of .log, and is located at: WINDOWS_APPDATA_DIR\VAISALA\LTS2005\log.

NOTE WINDOWS_APPDATA_DIR refers to C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data in Windows XP and refers to C:\ProgramData in Windows Vista or 7.

- Double-clicking on a file displays the contents of the file in Windows Notepad (or the default configured text reader for your system).

Figure 42 .log File

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Locating and Viewing Archive Files

For each data source, and for ALARM files, LTS2005 retains an Archive data folder created during the installation process.

The default location of Archive files is WINDOWS_APPDATA_DIR\VAISALA\LTS2005 \LTS2005_archive\ folder; where is the configured data source name.

Default folders are retained for the following:

- ALARM—Contains archived ALARM files. - BULLETINS—Contains archived Bulletin files (created after receiving your first Bulletin). - CEN—Contains archived Lightning data files - DENS—Contains archived Density data files

Default Archive folders are located at:

WINDOWS_APPDATA_DIR\VAISALA\LTS2005 \LTS2005_archive\ALARM

WINDOWS_APPDATA_DIR\VAISALA\LTS2005\LTS2005_archive\CEN

WINDOWS_APPDATA_DIR\VAISALA\LTS2005\LTS2005_archive\DENS

NOTE WINDOWS_APPDATA_DIR refers to C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data in Windows XP and refers to C:\ProgramData in Windows Vista or 7.

NOTE The default location for archived files can be changed in the General Configuration dialog box, General tab, Archive panel, Archive path text box.

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Backing Up System Files

NOTE The default location for archived files can be changed in the General Configuration dialog box, General tab, Archive panel, Backup path text box.

Locating System Backup Directories

For each data source, and for ALARM files, LTS2005 retains a Backup data folder created during the installation process. Files must be manually backed up. Refer to Backing Up Lightning Data Files on page 89 for details.

The default location of Backup files is WINDOWS_APPDATA_DIR\VAISALA\LTS2005 \LTS2005_backup\ folder; where is the configured data source name.

Default folders are retained for the following:

- ALARM—Contains backed-up ALARM files. - BULLETINS—Contains backed-up Bulletin files. - CEN—Contains backed-up lightning files.

Default Backup folders are located at:

WINDOWS_APPDATA_DIR\VAISALA\LTS2005\LTS2005_backup\Alarm

WINDOWS_APPDATA_DIR\VAISALA\LTS2005\LTS2005_backup\CEN

WINDOWS_APPDATA_DIR\VAISALA\LTS2005\LTS2005_backup\Dens

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Backing Up Lightning Data Files

To preserve (backup) data files you must manually copy them, using standard Windows functions, to a backup folder.

Default Backup folders are located at:

WINDOWS_APPDATA_DIR\VAISALA\LTS2005\LTS2005_backup\Alarm

WINDOWS_APPDATA_DIR\VAISALA\LTS2005\LTS2005_backup\CEN

WINDOWS_APPDATA_DIR\VAISALA\LTS2005\LTS2005_backup\Dens

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Understanding Configuration Files

One password-protected Configuration file, along with a License file, is created by Vaisala and is specific to your subscribed area. To view information contained in these files, use the LTS2005 General Configuration dialog box.

Locating Configuration Files

The Display Configuration file has a default extension of .cnfg, and is located at: WINDOWS_APPDATA_DIR\VAISALA\LTS2005\config.

NOTE WINDOWS_APPDATA_DIR refers to C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data in Windows XP and refers to C:\ProgramData in Windows Vista or 7.

The following parameters are defined by the Display Configuration file:

- Central connection - Archive (path and days) - Map properties - Clear Warning Area style - In Alert Warning Area style - ETA Area style - Display data (colors, mode, lightning type(s) displayed) - Alert settings - Warning Area Alert settings - Warning Area parameters - Predefined zooms (names, Auto-Cycle order, cycle display time) - Density Calculation Area - Mesh properties - Calculation Time - Number of Refresh periods

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- Cell properties - Parameters for items listed in the General Configuration >Identify tab - Parameters for items listed in the General Configuration > Others tab - Parameters for items listed in the General Configuration > General tab

Detailed information regarding the parameters above can be found by reading the section Central Connection Parameters below, through Others Tab Parameters on page 93.

Central Connection Parameters

The following Central connection information is maintained in the Configuration file:

- Central data type—LP Type 96, LP Type 97, Secondary - NLDN address - Central Host IP number - Central Port number

Archive Parameters - Archive path - Number of days worth of files, kept in the Archive

Map Parameters -Geoset - Map unit - Coordinate system - Map datum - Map type - Latitude of origin - Longitude of origin

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Clear Warning Area Style Parameters - Color -Pattern - Transparent (T or F) - Border style (use solid lines) - Border color - Border width

In Alert Warning Area Style Parameters - Color -Pattern - Transparent (T or F) - Border style (use solid lines) - Border color - Border width

Display Data Parameters - Color array - Single color mode - Legend Time-Period length - Type of lightning data displayed (IC, CG+, or CG-)

Warning Area Alert Parameters - Warning Area name - Warning Area Alert duration (in seconds) - Warning Area enabled (T or F) - Warning Area beep on Alert (T or F) - Warning Area type (circle or polygon) - Warning Area visible (T or F) - Warning Area triggered on CG., IC, Core, Cell or ETA selection

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Warning Area Parameters For each Warning Area:

- Warning Area name - Warning Area type (circle or polygon) - Warning Area radius if circle - Warning Area points if polygon - IC lightning data enabled (T of F)

Predefined Zoom Parameters - Zoom name - Zoom latitude range - Zoom longitude range - Auto-Cycle display time - Order for Auto-Cycle zooms

General Tab Parameters See section General Tab on page 59.

Connections Tab Parameters See section Connections Tab on page 62.

Density Tab Parameters See section Density Tab on page 65.

Identify Tab Parameters See section Identify Tab on page 69, and Appendix B, Inspector Window Parameters, on page 269.

Others Tab Parameters See section Others Tab on page 71.

LTS2005 permits you to make changes to the Display Configuration file and save the file without overwriting the current Configuration file,

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or rename then save the file. Multiple Configuration files may be created for varying regions and conditions.

For information on using multiple Configuration files, see Using Multiple Configuration Files on page 94.

Overwriting Configuration Files

When saving Configuration file changes the Confirm dialog box displays prompting you to answer a question regarding saving changes. Clicking No prevents overwriting the file but keeps the changes you made to the file until the last saved Configuration file is reloaded. See Figure 43 below.

Figure 43 Confirm Dialog Box

Using Multiple Configuration Files

LTS2005 allows multiple user-defined Configuration files. At startup LTS2005 loads the default Configuration file which contains the most recently used information; including the name of the last saved or the last loaded Configuration file. The last saved, or the last loaded Configuration file, is then copied to the default file. In the case where the file has been erased or is corrupted, default values are used and Untitled is displayed in the Configuration Filename parameter. Default information is then used by the LTS2005 application.

CAUTION When making changes to a Configuration file it is recommended that you first save and rename a copy of the file you are working on; then proceed to make changes on the copy.

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Determining the Current Configuration File

Method One

- The current Configuration filename is displayed in the title bar of the LTS2005 application. Refer to Figure 44 below for detail.

Figure 44 Determining the Current Configuration File

Method Two

1. From the LTS2005 Main menu, select Tools > Configuration. The Password dialog box displays. 2. If prompted, enter your password. 3. Click OK to proceed. The General Configuration dialog box displays. 4. Click the General tab. 5. The Configuration filename and path being used is displayed in the Configuration Filename text box. See Figure 45 below.

Configuration filename: C:\ProgramData\VAISALA\LTS2005\config\texas.cnfg

Figure 45 Configuration Filename Text Box

Changing (Loading) a Named Configuration file

1. From the LTS2005 Main menu, select File > Load Configuration. The Password dialog box displays. 2. If prompted, enter your password. 3. Click OK to proceed. The Open Configuration dialog box displays.

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4. Using the appropriate path (WINDOWS_APPDATA_DIR\VAISALA\LTS2005\config), or by selecting Configuration files from the Files of type drop-down list box, select a new Configuration file from the list box. The name displays in the File name text box. 5. Click Open. The Load Configuration message indicates the progress of loading the new file.

The new Configuration filename displays on the title bar of the LTS2005 application, as well as in the General Configuration dialog box.

NOTE Changing a Configuration file resets the Density calculation. Commu- nications are lost during Configuration file loading times; therefore data received during this time are lost.

Saving a Configuration file

1. From the LTS2005 Main menu, select File > Save Configuration As (use this command to rename a file). The Enter Password dialog box displays. Or: From the Main menu select the File > Save Configuration menu item (use this command to save a file without renaming it). 2. If prompted, enter your password. 3. Click OK to proceed. The Save Configuration As dialog box displays.

You can now save the file for later use.

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CHAPTER 6 UNDERSTANDING THE AREA MAP

The Area Map displayed by LTS2005 represents your Licensed Data Region, and provides the background over which lightning data is displayed. Area Maps are initially created by the Vaisala technical staff for each particular system. You can create unique regional Warning Areas and have the option to display a grid over the map.

The system displays Central data on a map using the latitude/longitude coordinates of the data and a time period color code. The default map projection is Mercator. Refer to Figure 49 on page 104 for detail.

By clicking the appropriate LTS2005 toolbar buttons, the following actions can be performed on the Area Map:

- Printing - Selecting a specific lightning event for specific information - Zooming - Panning - Obtaining map distance and bearing between points - Creating and accessing a predefined zoom view (unique views of the Area Map can be configured and saved for viewing at a later date). - Zooming to the extents of your subscribed area - Enabling and disabling the map grid - Displaying a Histogram of lightning events - Displaying the Legend dialog box for determining event age

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Map Features

Depending on the map geoset and resolution (zoom factor) the following items may be displayed over the Area Map:

- Country boundary lines - State or provincial boundary lines - State capitol or provincial names - County lines and name - City names for larger cities - Interstate highways - Map grid - Distance and bearing

Refer to the figure at the end of this section for a map example.

Changing the Area Map

Although you may change geosets or map layers, and can move freely around the map displayed, you cannot change or reconfigure the Area Map itself due to licensing restrictions. Contact Technical Support for information on changing Area Maps.

Map Grid Lines

Lines representing lines of latitude and longitude can be displayed over the Area Map.

Grid lines representing lines of Latitude and Longitude are drawn only for even-numbered lines, and every 15 degrees (refer to Figure 46 on page 99). If your viewing area is relatively small in size, and falls in- between the drawn grid lines, you will not see lines of Latitude and Longitude. Using other geosets it is possible to create a map layer with "tighter" grid lines.

NOTE If the geoset currently used contains a layer named grid the tool can then be used to show or hide the layer named grid.

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Using other geosets, it is possible to create or view a tighter map grid (closer lines of Latitude and Longitude), or you can create your own. Refer to the MapInfo and MapX web site(s) for information.

Figure 46 Map Grid Displayed Over the Area Map

To display the Map Grid lines:

Method One

- In the LTS2005 toolbar, click . The Map Grid displays over the Area Map.

Method Two

- From the LTS2005 Main menu, select View > Grid Visible. The Map Grid displays over the Area Map.

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Map Scale Bar

The Map Scale Bar (Figure 47 below) provides a tool used in referencing lightning data in relation to real world space. The Scale Bar automatically adjusts to the displayed map scale (while zooming in and out) and the unit of measurement defined in the Units panel, of the General Configuration dialog box, General tab.

To display the Map Scale bar:

Method One

- In the LTS2005 toolbar, click . The Map Grid displays over the Area Map.

Method Two

- From the LTS2005 Main menu, select View > Scale Bar. The Map Grid displays over the Area Map.

Figure 47 Scale Bar

Distance Between Objects

NOTE Because the Scale Bar is scalable, do not zoom in and out (enlarge, reduce) the Area Map once you have marked your straight edge or string. Doing so will cause inaccuracies in determining distance.

To determine the distance between objects:

1. Place a straight edge, card stock, or string between the two locations or objects in question on the Area Map. Use string when measuring a curved line or multiple objects that are not adjacent to one another.

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2. Make a mark, or otherwise distinguish, the two locations on the straight edge or string. 3. Locate the Map Scale Bar on the area map (refer to Figure 47 on page 100). 4. Place the straight edge or string up against the Scale Bar and read or determine the distance from the Scale Bar. 5. Convert the map units of measurement into the units you are using, or are most convenient for you. (i.e. convert one mile into 63,360 inches, etc.). You may also use the technique described in See section Distance and Bearing To an Event on page 101

Distance and Bearing To an Event

To determine distance and bearing:

1. In the LTS2005 toolbar, click . The cursor changes to a

crosshairs cursor . 2. Select the event that you want the physical distance and compass bearing on. 3. While selecting, hold the left mouse button and drag the cursor to the destination (target) you want the distance and bearing from (relative to the event). See Figure 48 on page 102. 4. Release the mouse button, the Distance & Bearing dialog box with coordinate and distance information displays over the map. Note the information. 5. Click OK to close the dialog box.

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Figure 48 Distance and Bearing—Examples

NOTE The above examples are for illustrative purposes only. Greater accuracy is possible by zooming in closer to the event and the location, or by providing exact coordinates of a location.

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Map Layers and Geosets

Map Layers

Think of map layers as transparencies where each layer contains a different part of the map. The layers are stacked one on top of the other and allow you to see all aspects of the map at the same time.Changes to map layers are performed via the Layer Control dialog box. See Figure 50 on page 105.

NOTE Changes made using Layer Control are not saved. Permanent changes to the Geoset, with regards to the colors used by LTS2005, can be accomplished by using the MapInfo Geoset Manager. The location of the file is (Windows 7 may have a different path):

C:\Program Files\MapInfo\MapX 5.0\GeosetManager50.exe. Refer to the MapInfo web site for greater detail.

Along with the standard layer types, unique user layers may also be added. See section Map Layers and Geosets on page 103.

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Figure 49 Typical Area Map

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Figure 50 Layer Control Dialog Box

To display the Map Layer dialog box:

1. From the LTS2005 Main menu, select Tools > Configuration. The Password dialog box displays. 2. If prompted, enter your password. 3. Click OK to proceed. The General Configuration dialog box displays. 4. In the Map panel, click Manage Layers. The Layer Control dialog box displays.

Table 16 below describes Layer Control dialog box button functions. Table 16 Layer Control Dialog Box—Functions Button or Option Function Click to move the selected layer Up the list one increment in the priority list. Click to move the selected layer Down the list one increment in the priority list. Click to display the Open dialog box, allowing you to select a new table (layer) to Add to the Layers list box.

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Table 16 Layer Control Dialog Box—Functions (Continued) Button or Option Function Click to Remove the selected layer from the Layers list box and geoset. Click to display the Display Properties dialog box, permitting you to change map display properties including: Styles, Zoom Layering, and to show specific line attributes. See Layer Properties section below. Click to display the Label Properties dialog box, permitting you to change map label properties including: Styles, Visibility and Position. See Layer Properties section below. Click to make the selected layer Visible, or not, on the Area Map. Click to make the selected layer Selectable by the mouse pointer. Click to produce Automatic Labels for cities, states, provinces, etc. Click to make the selected layer Editable.

Managing Map Layers

You can reorder map layers so that a particular layer is on top. Any options not available to you are grayed-out.

To display the Layer Control dialog box:

1. From the LTS2005 Main menu, select Tools > Configuration. The Enter Password dialog box displays. 2. If prompted, enter your password. 3. Click OK to proceed. The General Configuration dialog box displays. 4. Click the General tab. 5. Click Manage Layers. The Layer Control dialog box displays. Available layers are listed in the Layers box. 6. Select a map layer from the Layers list box. Specific layer properties are displayed in the Properties panel. To move the selected layer up in the list order, click Up. To move the selected layer down in the list order, click Down. To delete the selected layer from the list, click Remove.

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7. To add a layer to the list, click Add. The Open dialog box displays. Using the appropriate path, usually C:\Program Files\MapInfo\Maps, locate and select the Layers file and click Open. The new layer displays in the Layers box. 8. Set layer property options in the Properties panel. 9. Set layer display options by clicking Display in the Properties panel. 10. Set the layer label options by clicking Labels in the Properties panel. 11. Click OK to accept the changes and close the dialog box.

CAUTION Any changes made in layer control are not saved. Permanent changes to the Geoset, with regard to the colors used by LTS2005, can be accomplished by using the MapInfo Geoset Manager. The location of the file (Windows 7 may have a different path) is C:\Program Files\MapInfo\GeosetManager50.exe. Refer to the MapInfo web site for greater detail.

NOTE The order in which layers are placed mandates the manner in which the layers are displayed and accessed. Some layers are not visible until you are zoomed in quite close. This is controlled by the Min Zoom and Max Zoom parameters in the Zoom Layering panel, of the Display Properties dialog box.

To display the Display Properties dialog box:

1. From the LTS2005 Main menu, select the Tools > Configuration menu item. 2. Click the General tab.

3. Click . The Layer Control dialog box displays.

4. After you have selected a layer, click . The Display Properties dialog box displays.

For information on map layers, see Map Layers and Geosets on page 103.

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Map Layer Order

Map layers in a Layers collection display in increasing index order. The bottom layer is drawn first and the top layer is drawn last. It is important to order your layers correctly. If the layers are incorrectly ordered in the Layers collection, the layer you want to view may be obscured by another.

Example: One layer may contain country boundaries, a second layer may have symbols that represent capitals, and a third layer might consist of highways. Laying these transparencies one on top of the other builds a complete map.

You can reorder how layers are displayed in a Map window. From the Layers list select the layer you want to reorder. Choose either the Up or Down button to move the layer(s) to a position above or below its current position.

Layer Properties

The Properties panel enables you to customize the display for each layer in a Map window. In the Layer Control dialog box, you can select a layer and click on the Display button to bring up the Display Properties dialog. There, you can change the default styles for the layer and set the zoom at which a layer displays.

When you first open a map, boundaries, lines, points, and text are all displayed using defaults in the map’s Geoset file. You can change how objects display by using the Display Mode panel of the Display Properties dialog box.

LTS2005 displays the override buttons that are appropriate for the type of objects in the layer.

Example: If the layer contains streets, a Line Style Override button displays. Clicking it displays the Line Style dialog box where you can change the width, and color of the streets. Suppose that you want to change the display of streets to a blue line. In the Layer Control dialog box, choose the street layer and click the Display button. This displays the Display Options dialog box. Click to place a check mark, in the Override Style box to activate the Override Style button (large gray button).

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For boundary layers, the Override Style button displays the Region Style dialog box where you can change both the fill and borders of boundaries. Use the Symbol Style dialog to override the style for layers containing symbols or points.

The Style Override is only in effect during the current work session, as are the other display settings. To make changes permanent, you need to modify the Geoset using the application located (Windows 7 may have a different path) at: C:\Program Files\MapInfo\MapX5.0\GeosetManager50.exe.

Figure 51 Display Properties Dialog Box

NOTE The Min Zoom and Max Zoom values in the Display Properties dialog box, define the level of zoom needed for the layer to display or disappear. If the zoom level stays within the values entered, the layer displays.

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Map Labels

As attributes, labels are dynamically connected to their map objects. If the layer is closed or is made invisible, the labels no longer display. If the data or geographic information changes, the labels change. If you create an expression for your labels and change the expression, the current labels are dynamically replaced with new ones.

In addition to label content, you control the position, display, and look of automatic labels by setting their properties. You can set conditions for displaying labels, in the style in which will display, and in what position for all the objects in the layer.

The Properties panel enables you to customize the display for each layer in a Map window. In the Layer Control dialog box, you can select a layer and click on the Labels button to bring up the Label Properties dialog. There, you can change the default styles for the labels, set the label position, and the visible range at which a label displays.

Figure 52 Label Properties Dialog Box

NOTE Clicking a button in the Styles panel displays a dialog box permitting you to define Style properties.

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Navigating the Area Map

By using the functions described on this section you can freely navigate the Area Map.

Zoom and Navigation Options

When a navigation or zoom button, , , or are right- clicked, a menu displays providing you with navigation options. See Figure 53 below.

Figure 53 Zoom Options

Zooming to the Extents of the Subscribed Data Region

To zoom to your data limits:

- In the LTS2005 toolbar, click . The screen redraws to the extents of the data in your subscribed area that contains lightning data.

Zooming In On Displayed Data

To zoom in on lightning data:

Method One

1. In the LTS2005 toolbar, click . The cursor changes to a magnifying glass . 2. Place the cursor in the center of the map area that you wish to magnify.

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3. Left-click the mouse button. The screen redraws the new zoom level. 4. Continue clicking until you obtain the zoom level you want.

Method Two

1. In the LTS2005 toolbar, click . The cursor changes to a magnifying glass . 2. Place the cursor to the left and above the area you wish to magnify. 3. Click and hold the left mouse button. 4. Drag the cursor right and down to create a rectangle around the area you wish to magnify. 5. Release the mouse button.

NOTE When zooming to a specific area, the new area displayed is centered around the spot where you clicked. In other words, the specific area

you clicked on becomes the new center of the Display. Use to position the map area as needed on the display.

Zooming Out On the Displayed Data

To zoom out:

1. In the toolbar, click . The cursor changes to a magnifying glass . 2. Place the cursor in the center of the map area that you wish to zoom out from. 3. Click the left mouse button. The screen redraws the new zoom level 4. Continue clicking until you obtain the zoom level you want.

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NOTE When zooming to a specific area, the new area displayed is centered around the spot where you clicked. In other words, the specific area

you clicked on becomes the new center of the Display. Use to position the map area as needed on the Display.

Panning the Area Map

To pan:

1. In the LTS2005 toolbar, select . The cursor changes to the Pan icon . 2. Place the cursor "hand" directly over the map area you wish to move. 3. Click and hold the left mouse button. 4. Drag the cursor in any direction to place the center of the selected area where you want it displayed. 5. Release the mouse button. The Display redraws the new location.

NOTE Right-click the mouse to display a menu with an option to return to the previous zoom level.

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Maps, Projections and Geosets

Map Projections

Maps can be displayed in many different projections. A projection is a method of reducing the distortion that occurs when objects from a spherical surface are displayed on a flat surface (coordinate system). There are many different types of projections, each designed to reduce the amount of distortion for a given area. To go into greater detail on maps, projections and geosets, is beyond the scope of this Help file. Many books and Internet sites are available to provide you with more detailed information.

To change the default map projection:

Refer to Figure 54 on page 115 for detail.

1. From the LTS2005 Main menu, select Tools > Configuration. The Enter Password dialog box displays. 2. If prompted, enter your password. 3. Click OK to proceed. The General Configuration dialog box displays. 4. Click the General tab. 5. In the Map panel, click Select Projection. The Choose Projection dialog box displays. 6. Select a category from the Category drop-down list box. 7. Select a category member from the Category Members list. 8. Click OK to accept the changes and return to the General Configuration dialog box. 9. Click Save & Exit to save the changes and return to the Display.

Click Save if you still have other changes to make in the General Configuration dialog box.

For information on commonly used map projections, see Appendix A, Commonly Used Map Projections, on page 261.

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Figure 54 Choose Projection Dialog Box

Map Geosets

A Geoset is a collection of map layers and their settings. Geosets are data sets made up of standard MapInfo format map files (.tab) of the same geographic region, hence the name Geoset. Geosets help you avoid the time consuming task of opening and displaying layers individually each time you want to work with them. The extension for a geoset is .gst. A .gst is a text file that contains several metadata keys that tell LTS2005 what tables to display and how to display them.

Geoset settings include:

- Projection - Default zooms - Auto-labeling of objects - Zoom layering, and - Whether the table is visible when opened.

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To change the Map Geoset:

1. From the LTS2005 Main menu, select Tools > Configuration. The Password dialog box displays. 2. If prompted, enter your password. 3. Click OK to proceed. The General Configuration dialog box displays. 4. Click the General tab. 5. In the Map panel, click Change Geoset. The Geoset dialog box displays (Figure 55 below).

Figure 55 Geoset Dialog Box

6. Select a new Geoset from the drop-down list. 7. Click Close to accept the changes and close the dialog box.

For more information on map set management, refer to the ReadMe.txt file on the LTS2005 Installation CD.

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Map Legend

The Legend dialog box is divided into six time periods, each represented by a unique and user-configured color. The colors used for lightning display and the colors used in the Time-Lapse Histogram are identical (as defined in the Legend). These colors provide a visual indication as to the age of the lightning data on the Display.

For information on Data Aging and how LTS2005 displays data as data ages, refer to Understanding Data Aging on page 127.

For information on the Map Legend during Replay, see Interaction of Map Legend Colors and Replay on page 254.

The Legend changes in appearance as needed, when in either the following Display Modes:

- Discharges -Density -Cells The map Legend dialog box allows you to define how data is displayed and aged by (depending on the Display mode selected):

- Set the Time-period length. - View the center coordinate of the displayed map area. - Change the colors used in displaying lightning data over the Area Map. - Change the colors used in displaying lightning data to gradients and back to solid.

To display the Map Legend:

Refer to Figure 56 on page 118 for detail.

Method One

- In the LTS2005 toolbar, select . The Legend dialog box displays.

Method Two

- From the LTS2005 Main menu, select View > Legend. The Legend dialog box displays.

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To maximize the Map Legend:

Method One

- With the Legend dialog box displayed, click . The Legend dialog box expands.

Method Two

- Roll the mouse cursor over the Legend dialog box. The Legend dialog box expands.

To minimize the Map Legend:

Method One

- With the Legend dialog box displayed and expanded, click . The Legend dialog box contracts.

Method Two

- Remove the mouse cursor from the Legend dialog box. The Legend dialog box contracts.

Figure 56 Legend Dialog Box—Minimized and Maximized

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The Map Legend in Discharges Mode

To select Discharges Display Mode:

Method one:

- In the LTS2005 tool bar, click . The Legend displays. See Figure 57 below.

Figure 57 Map Legend—Discharges Mode

Method two:

- From the LTS2005 Main menu, select View> Display > Discharges.

Table 17 on page 120 describes map Legend functions in Discharges mode

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. Table 17 Map Legend—Discharge Mode Functions Button Or Panel Purpose Time-period length–Set the Time-period length used in Discharge calculations. The Time-period length selected, determines how long the flash is kept in a specific time period (color key).

Highlight cloud to ground–Highlight the CGs out of the ICs. This feature draw the IC with more transparency than the CG so the CG are more visible. The transparency of the CG layer is set by the Transparency factor. Transparency–When the Highlight cloud to ground option is not selected, this value defines the transparency factor of the discharge layer. From 0 (transparent, invisible) to 255 (opaque).

When the Highlight cloud to ground option is selected, this value defines the transparency factor for the CG layer. From 0 (only IC are visible) to 255 (only CG are visible). Map Legend color keys—Display the event in the color selected to represent specific time periods of lightning activity in the LTS2005 Display. These colors provide a visual indication as to the age of the lightning data on the LTS2005 Display.

Individual Level colors may be changed by clicking on a selected color, and using the Windows Color dialog box.

Refer to Understanding Data Aging on page 127, for details on how the Legend uses color to age data. Displays the center coordinates of the displayed map area. Note coordinates displayed are in decimal format.

Toggle to expand or contract the map Legend. Refer to the LTS2005 Display Installation and Configuration guide for other use. Click to change map Legend color keys to a gradient.

Click to revert map Legend colors keys to solid.

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The Map Legend in Density Mode

To select Density Display Mode:

Method one:

- In the LTS2005 tool bar, click , the Legend enters Density mode. Refer to Figure 58 below.

Figure 58 Map Legend—Density Mode

Method two:

- From the LTS2005 Main menu, select View> Display > Density.

Table 18 on page 122 describes map Legend functions in Density mode.

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Table 18 Map Legend—Density Mode Functions Button Or Panel Purpose Select the Mesh size used in displaying Cells. Basic square size. This value is tied to the Mesh Size defined in the General Configuration dialog box, Density tab. Levels number–Represents the number of colors used in the Legend. From 1 to 16. Max–The highest value displayed by the Legend. All values higher are represented by the highest color. Linear–Selecting enables Legend values from 0 to Max to be computed using a linear ramp. Log–Selecting enables Legend values from 0 to Max to be computed using a logarithmic ramp. User defined–Selecting enables Legend values from 0 to Max to be defined by manually setting values. Transparency–Sets the transparency factor of the density layer. From 0 (transparent, invisible) to 255 (opaque).

In Density mode, the Legend uses color-coding to display Density over time.

Individual Level colors may be changed by clicking on a selected color, and using the Windows Color dialog box.

Refer to Understanding Data Aging on page 127, for details on how the Legend uses color to age data.

Displays the center coordinates of the displayed map area. Note coordinates displayed are in decimal format.

Toggle to expand or contract the map Legend. Refer to the LTS2005 Display Installation and Configuration guide for other use. Click to change map Legend color keys to a gradient.

Click to revert map Legend colors keys to solid.

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The Map Legend in Cells Mode

To select Cells Display Mode:

Method one:

- In the LTS2005 tool bar, click , the Legend enters Cells mode. Refer to Figure 59 below.

Figure 59 Map Legend—Cells Mode

Method two:

- From the LTS2005 Main menu, select View> Display > Cells.

Table 19 on page 124 describes map Legend panel and button functions while in Cells mode.

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Table 19 Map Legend—Cells Mode Functions Button Or Panel Purpose Mesh size–Select the Mesh size used in Cells calculations. Basic square size. NOTE: Changing the Mesh size resets Nowcasting history. Now cast–Duration of the first projected interval with a maximum of 20 minutes. Provides for a 60 minute Nowcast. Present–Current lightning position 10 min–Next projected location (image) of where the cell is predicted to arrive in 10-minutes. 20 min–Next projected location (image) of where the cell is predicted to arrive in 20-minutes. 30 min–Next projected location (image) of where the cell is predicted to arrive in 30-minutes.

Intervals are dependant on Nowcast Interval definition.

–Click to cycle through all selected NowCast images.

Zoom–Function turns off and on magnification of Nowcasted cells. Color–Provides for making cells brighter or darker. Outlined–Option turns off and an outline around cells. Cell identification–When ETA is used, the system draws a line from the cell that has triggered the ETA to the affected Warning Area. Level number–Number of bins in the Legend (4 or 5). Transparency–Sets the transparency factor of the density layer. From 0 (transparent, invisible) to 255 (opaque).

In Cells mode, the Legend uses color-coding to display displacement of cells and cell core(s) over time.

Individual Level colors may be changed by clicking on a selected color, and using the Windows Color dialog box.

Refer to Understanding Data Aging on page 127, for details on how the Legend uses color to age data.

Displays the center coordinates of the displayed map area. Note coordinates displayed are in decimal format.

Toggle to expand or contract the map Legend. Refer to the LTS2005 Display Installation and Configuration guide for other use.

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Table 19 Map Legend—Cells Mode Functions (Continued) Button Or Panel Purpose Click to change map Legend color keys to a gradient.

Click to revert map Legend colors keys to solid.

Changing Map Legend Colors

LTS2005 allows you to configure the colors used for the Display to best suit your needs. These colors are used in the display of lightning data, the Histogram, and the Legend.

To change Map Legend colors:

1. With the Legend dialog box displayed, click on the color you want to change. The Color dialog box displays.

Figure 60 Map Legend Color Keys

2. From the colors displayed in the Basic colors palette, choose a new color by clicking on it. 3. Click OK to close the Color dialog box and accept the new color. 4. The new color is displayed in the Legend, Histogram, and event symbols displayed over the Area Map.

Defining Custom Map Legend Colors

LTS2005 allows you to define and use custom colors. Refer to your Operating System manual or guide for information on creating and saving custom Windows colors.

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CHAPTER 7 UNDERSTANDING DATA AGING

As discharges are received by the application, they are plotted on the LTS2005 Display. The duration, or how long, the data remains on the display is called the Time-Period Length and is user-configured.

Time-Period Length represents the length of time, or how long a particular color (bin), remains on the Legend and the Display. The most recent discharges are always displayed in the top-most bin.

Legend bins are updated every refresh period (a multiple of the time period). Table 20 below indicates the different time period(s), their associated refresh period and the minimum and maximum duration of data displayed.

Table 20 Data Aging—Time Period vs. Refresh Period Time Period Refresh Period Min. Duration Max. Duration 5 sec. 5 sec. 25 sec. 30 sec. 10 sec. 10 sec. 50 sec. 1 min. 30 sec. 30 sec. 2 min., 30 sec. 3 min. 1 min. 30 sec. 5 min., 30 sec. 6 min. 2.5 min. 30 sec. 14 min., 30 sec. 15 min. 5 min. 1 min. 29 min. 30 min. 10 min. 1 min. 59 min. 1 hr. 20 min. 5 min. 1 hr., 55 min. 2 hrs. 30 min. 5 min. 2 hrs., 55 min. 3 hrs. 1 hr. 10 min. 5 hrs., 50 min. 6 hrs. 2 hrs. 30 min. 11 hrs., 30 min. 12 hrs. 4 hrs. 1 hr. 23 hrs. 24 hrs.

Figure 61 on page 128 illustrates the concept of Time-Period Length and Refresh Period Length; while Figure 62 on page 129, illustrates aged data as it is displayed by the system.

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In Figure 61 below, the Time-Period Length selected is 10 minutes and the Refresh Period value is set to 5 minutes. In the application, this value is set to 1 minute. The three time lines illustrate how the system color codes the data at a given time.

Figure 61 Data Aging—Time Lapse Example

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Figure 62 below, Figure 63 on page 130 and Figure 64 on page 131, illustrate data aging.,

Figure 62 Aged Lightning Data

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Figure 63 Data Aging—Legend Shown

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Figure 64 Data Aging—Legend with Histogram

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Map Legend Color Keys

Refer to Figure 65 on page 132 for detail.

- The color key displayed for each time classification in the Legend dialog box may be customized by the user. - The color(s) used for aging displayed events is dependant upon the time period selected in the Legend dialog box. - The color keys in the Legend dialog box display the event in the color selected to represent specific time periods of lightning activity in the LTS2005 Display. - Events occurring within each time period are displayed in a unique color. - The colors selected in the Legend are used in the Histogram as well.

- Clicking in the Center coordinate panel, changes the solid colors used for the Display, to colors using a gradient (progressively changing color).

- Clicking in the Center coordinate panel, reverts the gradients to solid colors. - The time interval used in the Legend dialog box, is set in the Time- period length drop-down list box.

When the age of a flash exceeds the Refresh Time-period length selected in the Legend dialog box, the flash ages and is displayed in a new color in accordance to the Time-period length selected.

Figure 65 Map Legend—Color Keys

Refer to Chapter 7, Understanding Data Aging, on page 127 for details on data aging.

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Time-Period Length

The Time-Period Length selected is used by the system to display lightning data. For an example of how Time-Period Length is used by the system, refer to Chapter 7, Understanding Data Aging, on page 127.

To set a Time Period Length for Data Aging:

- With the map Legend displayed, select a time period using the Time-period length drop-down list box. The Display automatically updates.

Figure 66 Selecting a Time-Period Length

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CHAPTER 8 UNDERSTANDING WARNING AREAS

A Warning Area is a user-defined region (area of concern) that is monitored by LTS2005 for lightning activity. Figure 67 below illustrates four different Warning Areas (one over water). The Warning Area displays over the Area Map, and is made up of Vaisala and user- defined circles, concentric circles (which can be utilized as range rings), and polygons. Any aggregation of circles and polygons may compose a Warning Area and if two (or more) Warning Areas contact one another, they may be combined to create a single, or larger, Warning Area.

Figure 67 Example Warning Areas—3 WAs Displayed

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The number of Warning Areas LTS2005 can display at once is limited by the complexity of the Warning Areas, how much RAM the PC is using, along with PC processor type and speed. Warning areas can be enabled and disabled as needed, and the fill style of a Warning Area in Alert or Clear mode can be configured by the user.

Warning Areas are independent of one another. LTS2005 checks each Warning Area and determines if a CG, IC, Core, Cell or ETA configuration setting or definition has occurred within the area. If a lightning event has occurred, LTS2005 logs the event and launches the Alert Timer for the Warning Area. If two Warning Areas overlap, a lightning event occurring in the overlapped area is considered as an event in both areas. A single event in an enabled Warning Area will activate an Alert (Figure 68 below). The Alert condition clears only when there has been no lightning in the area for the defined number of seconds.

Figure 68 Example Warning Areas—Close-Up of WA in Alert

The system performs a test of the intersection(s) of all the incoming discharges within all the Warning Areas. If an intersection is found within a predefined Warning Area, the system will raise the Alert status of that area. Once an Alert is issued in a Warning Area, the Warning Area properties change in accordance with the properties currently defined by the In Alert and Clear styles, and if defined, the PC may emit an audible beep. An entry is made in the Alarm Log each time that any Alert is issued, Cleared, or Acknowledged.

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Warning Area Options

Each defined Warning Area can be triggered independently when one or more of the following options are selected in the Area Definition dialog box:

- When the Cloud to ground option is selected, the Warning Area goes into Alert mode when a CG event occurs within the selected Warning Area. - When the Intra cloud option is selected, the Warning Area goes into Alert mode when an IC event occurs within the selected Warning Area. - When the Core option is selected, the Warning Area goes into Alert mode when the core of a cell contacts the selected Warning Area. - When the Cell option is selected, the Warning Area goes into Alert mode when a cell makes contact with the selected Warning Area. - When the ETA option is selected, the Warning Area goes into Alert mode when an estimated core or an estimated cell touches the area. - Functions including: creating and combining Warning Areas, configuring Email alerts, naming and renaming Warning Areas and other options are described in Table 21 on page 158.

Figure 69 Area Definition Dialog Box Options

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Some of the same Properties options in the Area Definition dialog box used in defining a Warning Area are available in the Triggered by options in the Alarms dialog box as well; as illustrated in Figure 70 below.

Figure 70 Alarms Dialog Box Options

A Warning Area option is changed by selecting a Warning Area, then select or deselect (check or unchecked) the option.

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Creating Warning Areas

A Warning Area is a user-defined region (area of concern) that when enabled, displays over the LTS2005 Area Map. The region is made up of Vaisala and user-defined circles and polygons which can be combined with another to define a greater Warning Area. You can also configure concentric circles as range rings.

The Area Definition and Alarms dialog boxes are used in concert to configure individual Warning Areas, define Warning Area properties and configure Alert actions.

Area Definition dialog box options are described in Table 21 on page 158; and Alarms dialog box options are described in Table 5 on page 31.

To create a Warning Area:

1. From the LTS2005 Main menu, select Tools > Modify Warning Areas. The Password dialog box displays 2. If prompted, enter your password. 3. Click OK to proceed. The Area Definition dialog box displays. See Figure 71 below for detail. 4. Before proceeding, decide on the type and shape of the Warning Area you want to create, or action you wish to perform from the following:

- Create a circular Warning Area with Known Coordinates. - Create a circular Warning Area with Unknown Coordinates. - Create a Concentric Warning Area. - Create a Polygon-shaped Warning Area. - Combine Warning Areas. - Configure Email notification for a selected Warning Area.

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Figure 71 Area Definition Dialog Box

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Create a Circular Warning Area with Known Coordinates

NOTE User-configured Email notification is available with this function.

1. With the Area Definition dialog box displayed, enter the coordinates for both latitude and longitude in the appropriate Lat: and Lon: text boxes for the center of the circular Warning Area. Use the toggle next to the direction indicator to switch between N and S, and E and W cardinal points when entering coordinates. The Area Definition dialog box text and text boxes used to enter Lat. and Lon., will display differently depending on whether the Coordinate in DMS option is selected in the General Configuration > Others tab. 2. In the Radius text box, enter a value that defines the outer limits of the circle, as measured from center. The unit of measurement is dependant upon the selection made in the Map panel, General Configuration dialog box.

3. Click , under the Radius text box, to add a circle. The Area dialog box displays. 4. Enter a new name in the Enter the area name text box. 5. Click OK to proceed. The Area dialog box closes. 6. The name displays in the Area Definition list box, select the new Warning Area name from the list. 7. In the Properties panel, set the following properties as needed: Enabled—Enables the selected Warning Area for Alert conditions. Visible—Enables the selected Warning Area to be displayed over the Area Map. Beep—Enables the PC to sound a beep when the enabled Warning Area goes into Alert mode.

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NOTE For the following options to function properly the Warning Area must be first Enabled.

CG—When the Cloud to ground option is selected, the Warning Area goes into Alert mode when a CG event occurs within the selected Warning Area IC—When the Intra cloud option is selected, the Warning Area goes into Alert mode when an IC event occurs within the selected Warning Area. Core—When the Core option is selected, the Warning Area goes into Alert mode when the core of a cell contacts the selected Warning Area. Cell—When the Cell option is selected, the Warning Area goes into Alert mode when a cell makes contact with the selected Warning Area. ETA—When the ETA option is selected, the Warning Area goes into Alert mode when an estimated core or an estimated cell touches the area.

8. —Click to configure E-mail notification for the selected Warning Area. 9. Click Save. 10. Create another circle, if needed, repeating Steps 1 through 8. 11. Click Save & Exit to save the file and return to the Display.

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Figure 72 Creating a Circular Warning Area—Known Coordinates

In Figure 73 above above, a circular Warning Area with Las Vegas, Nevada as the center of the radius is displayed.

NOTE To set custom sounds, ETA Lead Time, and Alert Duration Time, select the Tools > General Configuration menu item; and click . Or you can select Tools > Alarm from the Main menu.

NOTE The radius parameter specifies the circle radius in the distance unit LTS2005 is currently using.

NOTE The circle uses current Warning Area style definitions.

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Create a Circular Warning Area with Unknown Coordinates

NOTE User-configured Email notification is available with this function.

1. Place the LTS2005 cursor on the map area target where you want the center of the circular Warning Area to be placed. Try to place the cursor as close to the center of the area as possible (city, town, highway, etc.). It may be helpful to zoom in on the target first in order to get a more accurate reading of the Latitude and Longitude (cursor position). 2. Observe and note the Lat: and Lon: values in the LTS2005 Status bar. 3. Display the Area Definition dialog box. 4. In the Lat: and Lon: text boxes, enter the latitude and longitude coordinates obtained from Step 2, for the center of the circular Warning Area. Use the toggle button next to the direction indicator to switch between N and S, and E and W cardinal points when entering coordinates. The Area Definition dialog box text and text boxes used to enter Lat. and Lon., will display differently depending on whether the Coordinate in DMS option is selected in the General Configuration > Others tab. 5. In the Radius text box, enter a value that defines the outer limits of the circle, as measured from center. The unit of measurement is dependant upon the selection made in the Map panel, General Configuration dialog box.

6. Click to add a circle directly on the map. The Area dialog box displays. 7. Enter a new name in the Enter the area name text box. 8. Click OK to proceed. The Area dialog box closes. 9. The name displays in the Area Definition list box. Select the new Warning Area name from the list. 10. In the Properties panel, set the following properties as needed:

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Enabled—Enables the selected Warning Area for Alert conditions. Visible—Enables the selected Warning Area to be displayed over the LTS2005 Area Map. Beep—Enables the PC to sound a beep when the enabled Warning Area goes into Alert mode.

NOTE For the following options to function properly the Warning Area must be first Enabled.

CG—When the Cloud to ground option is selected, the Warning Area goes into Alert mode when a CG event occurs within the selected Warning Area IC—When the Intra cloud option is selected, the Warning Area goes into Alert mode when an IC event occurs within the selected Warning Area. Core—When the Core option is selected, the Warning Area goes into Alert mode when the core of a cell contacts the selected Warning Area. Cell—When the Cell option is selected, the Warning Area goes into Alert mode when a cell makes contact with the selected Warning Area. ETA—When the ETA option is selected, the Warning Area goes into Alert mode when an estimated core or an estimated cell touches the area.

11. —Click to configure E-mail notification for the selected Warning Area. 12. Click Save. 13. Create another Warning Area if needed, repeating Steps 1 through 11. 14. Click Save & Exit to save the file and return to the Display.

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Figure 73 Creating a Circular Warning Area—Unknown Coordinates

In Figure 73 above above, a circular Warning Area with Tucson, Arizona as the center of the radius is displayed.

NOTE To set custom sounds, ETA Lead Time, and Alert Duration Time, select the Tools > General Configuration menu item; and click . Or you can select Tools > Alarm from the Main menu.

NOTE The radius parameter specifies the circle radius, in the distance unit LTS2005 is currently using.

NOTE The circle uses current Warning Area style definitions.

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Create a Circular Warning Area– Manually Placed

NOTE User-configured Email notification is available with this function.

Use this method when the coordinates are unknown, or to manually place a circle anywhere on the Area Map.

1. Click the Add Circle, Draw On Map button . The

cursor goes into Draw Circle Directly On Map mode 2. Place the Draw Circle cursor in the map area where you want the center of the circular Warning Area to be placed. Try to place the cursor as close to the center of the area as possible (city, town, highway, etc.). 3. Left-click and hold the mouse button. 4. Hold the mouse button and drag the mouse until you have the size of the circle you want, then release the mouse button. The Area dialog box displays. 5. Enter a new name in the Enter the area name text box. 6. Click OK to proceed. The Area dialog box closes. 7. The name displays in the Area Definition list box. Select the new Warning Area name from the list. 8. In the Properties panel, set the following properties as needed: Enabled—Enables the selected Warning Area for Alert conditions. Visible—Enables the selected Warning Area to be displayed over the Area Map. Beep—Enables the PC to sound a beep when the enabled Warning Area goes into Alert mode.

NOTE For the following options to function properly the Warning Area must be first Enabled.

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CG—When the Cloud to ground option is selected, the Warning Area goes into Alert mode when a CG event occurs within the selected Warning Area IC—When the Intra cloud option is selected, the Warning Area goes into Alert mode when an IC event occurs within the selected Warning Area. Core—When the Core option is selected, the Warning Area goes into Alert mode when the core of a cell contacts the selected Warning Area. Cell—When the Cell option is selected, the Warning Area goes into Alert mode when a cell makes contact with the selected Warning Area. ETA—When the ETA option is selected, the Warning Area goes into Alert mode when an estimated core or an estimated cell touches the area.

9. —Click to configure E-mail notification for the selected Warning Area. 10. Click Save. 11. Create another Warning Area if needed, repeating Steps 1 through 9. 12. Click Save & Exit to save the file and return to the Display.

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Figure 74 Manually-Placed Circular Warning Area

NOTE To set custom sounds, ETA Lead Time, and Alert Duration Time, select the Tools > General Configuration menu item; and click . Or you can select Tools > Alarm from the Main menu.

NOTE The radius parameter specifies the circle radius, in the distance unit LTS2005 is currently using.

NOTE The circle uses current Warning Area style definitions.

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Create a Concentric Warning Area

NOTE User-configured Email notification is available with this function.

To aid in providing a maximum notification time, you may want to create several concentric range rings. A minimum of three concentric rings is recommended. See Figure 75 on page 153 for detail.

1. With the Area Definition dialog box displayed, enter the known latitude and longitude coordinates in the Lat: and Lon: text boxes for the center of the innermost circular Warning Area. Use the toggle button next to the direction indicator to switch between N and S, and E and W cardinal points when entering coordinates. The Area Definition dialog box text and text boxes used to enter Lat. and Lon., will display differently depending on whether the Coordinate in DMS option is selected in the General Configuration > Others tab. If the coordinates are unknown, begin with the procedure Create a Circular Warning Area with Unknown Coordinates on page 144 for the first step. 2. In the Radius text box, enter a small value (5 to 15) that defines the outer limits of the circle, measured from center. The unit of measurement is dependant upon the selection made in the Map panel, General Configuration dialog box.

3. Click to add a circle. The Area dialog box displays. 4. Enter a unique name in the Enter the area name box. 5. Click OK to proceed. The Area dialog box closes. 6. In the Radius text box, enter a medium value (20 to 50) that defines the outer limits of the circle, as measured from center.

7. Click to add a circle. The Area dialog box displays 8. Enter another unique name in the Enter the area name text box. 9. Click OK to proceed.

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10. In the Radius text box, enter a maximum value (50 to 200 depending upon the area you are subscribed to) that defines the outer limits of the circle, as measured from center.

11. Click to add a circle. The Area dialog box displays. 12. Enter another unique name in the Enter the area name text box. 13. Repeat Steps 1 through 6, increasing or decreasing the outer limits of the circle, until you have all the concentric circles that are needed. 14. For each of the newly created areas, select each new Warning Area name from the list and set the following properties for each in the Properties panel: Enabled—Enables the Warning Area for Alarm conditions. Visible—Displays the Warning Area over the Area Map. Beep—Enables the PC to sound a beep when the enabled Warning Area goes into Alert mode..

NOTE For the following options to function properly the Warning Area must be first Enabled.

CG—When the Cloud to ground option is selected, the Warning Area goes into Alert mode when a CG event occurs within the selected Warning Area IC—When the Intra cloud option is selected, the Warning Area goes into Alert mode when an IC event occurs within the selected Warning Area. Core—When the Core option is selected, the Warning Area goes into Alert mode when the core of a cell contacts the selected Warning Area. Cell—When the Cell option is selected, the Warning Area goes into Alert mode when a cell makes contact with the selected Warning Area. ETA—When the ETA option is selected, the Warning Area goes into Alert mode when an estimated core or an estimated cell touches the area.

15. —Click to configure E-mail notification for the selected Warning Area.

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16. When done, click Save & Exit to save the configuration and return to the display.

NOTE The Warning Area circles use current Warning Area style definitions.

NOTE The unit of measurement is dependant upon the selection made in the Map panel, General Configuration dialog box.

NOTE The values given in the steps above are for example only. You may determine the size of your circles (from center) as needed.

NOTE To set custom sounds, ETA Lead Time, and Alert Duration Time, select the Tools > General Configuration menu item; and click

. Or you can select Tools > Alarm from the Main menu.

NOTE The radius parameter specifies the circle radius, in the distance unit LTS2005 is currently using.

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Figure 75 Concentric Warning Areas—Alert Mode in Outer Ring

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Create a Warning Area Using a Polygon

NOTE User-configured Email notification is available with this function.

See Figure 76 on page 156 for detail.

1. With the Area Definition dialog box displayed, click to add a polygon. The cursor changes to the Create Polygon tool

. 2. Using the Polygon tool, place the cursor where you want the first point of the polygon to be assigned. 3. Left-click to place the first point of the Warning Area, and release the mouse button. 4. Drag the cursor to the next location, and left-click the mouse button. 5. Repeat Steps 1 through 4 until you have the shape you want. 6. When you reach the end of the area, double-click the mouse button to close the polygon. The Area dialog box displays. 7. In the Enter the area name box, enter the name for the new Warning Area. 8. Click OK to proceed. 9. The name displays in the Area Definition list box, select the new Warning Area name from the list. 10. In the Properties panel, set the following properties as needed for each new Warning Area: Enabled—Enables the selected Warning Area for Alarm conditions. Visible—Enables the selected Warning Area to be displayed over the LTS2005 Area Map. Beep—Enables the PC to sound a beep when the enabled Warning Area goes into Alert mode.

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NOTE For the following options to function properly the Warning Area must be first Enabled.

CG—When the Cloud to ground option is selected, the Warning Area goes into Alert mode when a CG event occurs within the selected Warning Area IC—When the Intra cloud option is selected, the Warning Area goes into Alert mode when an IC event occurs within the selected Warning Area. Core—When the Core option is selected, the Warning Area goes into Alert mode when the core of a cell contacts the selected Warning Area. Cell—When the Cell option is selected, the Warning Area goes into Alert mode when a cell makes contact with the selected Warning Area. ETA—When the ETA option is selected, the Warning Area goes into Alert mode when an estimated core or an estimated cell touches the area.

11. —Click to configure E-mail notification for the selected Warning Area. 12. Click Save. 13. Repeat Steps 1 through 11 to create another Warning Area if needed. 14. Click Save & Exit to save the file and return to the Display.

NOTE Double-clicking the left mouse button closes the polygon (can be done at any time).

NOTE To set custom sounds, ETA Lead Time, and Alert Duration Time, select the Tools > General Configuration menu item; and click

. Or you can select Tools > Alarm from the Main menu.

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NOTE The Warning Area polygon uses the current Warning Area style definitions.

Figure 76 Two Polygon-Shaped Warning Areas (Notice Warning Area in Alert)

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Defining Warning Area Styles

Styles are used by LTS2005 to indicate when a Warning Area has entered Alert mode, and when the area is in Clear mode. The default is red for In Alert mode, and green is used to indicate a Clear mode. Each can be configured by the user to suit a particular situation or viewing need. Three different Warning Area styles are possible, and are discussed below.

To display the Region Style dialog box:

1. From the LTS2005 Main menu, select Tools > Configuration. The Password dialog box displays. 2. If prompted, enter your password. 3. Click OK to proceed. The General Configuration dialog box displays. 4. Click the General tab.

5. Click to configure the Clear Warning Area style. The Region Style dialog box displays.

Click to configure the In Alert Warning Area style. The Region Style dialog box displays.

Click to configure the ETA Warning Area style. The Region Style dialog box displays. 6. Proceed with the appropriate configuration steps on this page for Clear, In Alert, and ETA styles. A table describing default Region Style colors is located at Table 21 on page 158.

To define a Warning Area style:

1. With the Region Style dialog box displayed (see procedure above) set the style for each of the buttons described above: Clear, In Alert, and ETA. 2. From the Fill panel: Select a Pattern for the Warning Area. Select a Foreground color. To select a Background color, enable the Background check box in the Fill panel.

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3. From the Border panel: Select a Color for the Warning Area border line in Clear mode. Select a Foreground color. 4. From the Width sub panel: Select the line Width in either pixels, or points. 5. Click OK to accept the changes and close the dialog box.

Figure 77 Region Style Dialog Box

NOTE A preview of your selections is displayed in the Sample panel.

Table 21 Default Region Style Colors Warning Area Default Color Clear Green In Alert Red ETA Orange

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Enabling and Displaying Warning Areas

To Enable and Display a Warning Area:

1. With the Area Definition dialog box displayed, select the Warning Area you want to enable for display from the list box. 2. In the Properties panel: Ensure the Enabled check box is selected to enable the Warning Area. Select the Visible check box to display the Warning Area over the Area Map. 3. Click Save & Exit to complete the operation and return to the Display.

Figure 78 Enabling a Warning Area

To display multiple Warning Areas:

- Repeat the above procedure for each Warning Area you wish to display over the Area Map.

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Modifying a Warning Area

To modify a Warning Area:

Refer to Table 22 below for button and option definitions.

1. From the LTS2005 Main menu, select Tools > Modify Warning Areas. The Password dialog box displays 2. If prompted, enter your password. 3. Click OK to proceed. The Area Definition dialog box displays. 4. From the Area Definition list box, select the Warning Area you want to modify. 5. Using the buttons (functions) provided in the Area Definition dialog box, modify the selected Warning Area. 6. When done click Save to save the current configuration.

Click Save & Exit to save the changes, and close the dialog box.

Table 22 Area Definition Dialog Box—Functions Button Purpose Remarks Buttons Used To Create New Warning Areas Click to Add a Circle over Adds a circle relative to the information in the the Area Map. Lat:, Lon:, and Radius fields displayed above the button

Click to Add a Polygon Adds a polygon relative to the current mouse directly over the Area Map. position. Left-click the mouse at each location point until the shape you want is attained, then double-click the mouse button to close the polygon. Click to Add a Circle Adds a circle relative to the current mouse directly over the Area Map. position. This button is located to the right of the Polygon button. Press and hold left mouse button, drag the mouse until the circle is the correct size. Click to Combine selected Combines selected Warning Areas. Warning Areas.

Buttons used to modify existing Warning Areas Click to Select a configured Warning Area node for editing.

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Table 22 Area Definition Dialog Box—Functions (Continued) Button Purpose Remarks Click to Move or Stretch a Warning Area. Click to Add a node to a configured Warning Area. Click to Delete selected node in a configured Warning Area. Click to Apply changes Clicking displays the Area dialog box. Enter a made to a selected new name for the new configuration and click OK Warning Area. to save. Click to Cancel changes made to a selected Warning Area. Clicking Saves selected Clicking displays the Save As dialog box Warning Area to a file. permitting you to Save a configured Warning Area in ASCII format. Clicking Loads a saved Clicking displays the Open dialog box permitting Warning Area file. you to Load a saved Warning Area. You can create your own files by entering a set of points in ASCII for Latitude and Longitude, then loading the file. Buttons Used To Configure Tasks Or Functions For Selected Warning Areas Select the appropriate Enabled–Enables (makes active) selected check box(es) to define Warning Area. properties for the selected Visible–Makes selected Warning Area visible Warning Area. over the Area Map. Beep–Enable audible cue for Warning Area. PC speaker beep; not to be confused with ETA, In Alert, or Clear sounds. Select the appropriate NOTE: Email notification is user-configured. check box(es) to define properties for the selected CG—When the Cloud to ground option is Warning Area. selected, the Warning Area goes into Alert mode when a CG event occurs within the selected Warning Area IC—When the Intra cloud option is selected, the Warning Area goes into Alert mode when an IC event occurs within the selected Warning Area. Core—When the Core option is selected, the Warning Area goes into Alert mode when the core of a cell contacts the selected Warning Area. Cell—When the Cell option is selected, the Warning Area goes into Alert mode when a cell makes contact with the selected Warning Area. ETA—When the ETA option is selected, the Warning Area goes into Alert mode when an estimated core or an estimated cell touches the area.

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Table 22 Area Definition Dialog Box—Functions (Continued) Button Purpose Remarks Click to Configure Email For more information on Configuring Email, see notification for the selected Understanding Warning Areas on page 135. Warning Area. Click to Rename a For information on renaming a Warning Area, see selected Warning Area. Renaming a Warning Area on page 165.

Click to Remove a For information on removing a Warning Area, see selected Warning Area. Removing a Warning Area on page 165. Standard interface buttons Click to Save changes. The dialog box remains open after saving permitting you to make more changes.

Click to Save changes and close and Exit the dialog box. Click to Close the dialog box without saving changes. Click to display the online Help file.

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Combining Warning Areas

When combining Warning Areas (Figure 79 below), the two Warning Areas that are to be combined, must be touching one another before combining them. You cannot combine Warning Areas that do not overlap.

1

2

Warning Area Selection

Warning Area Selection Combined

Figure 79 Combining Warning Areas

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This procedure assumes that you already have created Warning Areas.

To combine Warning Areas:

7. With the Area Definition dialog box displayed, select the first Warning Area you want to combine with another area from the list box. 8. While pressing and holding down the CTRL key, select another Warning Area from the same list. 9. Repeat Step 2, as needed, to select all the Warning Areas you want to combine.

10. When done selecting, click to combine regions. The Area dialog box displays. 11. In the Enter the area name box, enter a unique name for the combined regions. 12. Click OK. 13. The combined regions display with the new configuration on the Display, and with the new name is displayed in the Area Definition list box. 14. Select the new Warning Area from the list box. 15. In the Properties panel, set the properties as needed. 16. Click Save & Exit to save the file and return to the Display.

NOTE Double-clicking the left mouse button closes the polygon (can be done at any time).

NOTE Once you have combined areas, the old area names may be deleted, while the combined area remains.

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Removing a Warning Area

To remove a Warning Area:

1. With the Area Definition dialog box displayed, select the Warning Area you want to remove from the list box.

2. Click . A message displays prompting you to confirm the request. 3. Click Yes. The Warning Area is removed from the list. Click No to cancel the operation and return to the Display. 4. Click Save & Exit to complete the operation and return to the Display.

Renaming a Warning Area

To rename a Warning Area:

1. With the Area Definition dialog box displayed, select the Warning Area you want to rename from the list box.

2. Click . The Area dialog box displays. 3. Enter the new name in the Enter the area name box. 4. Click OK. The renamed Warning Area is displayed in the list box. 5. Click Save & Exit to save the changes and return to the Display.

For information on Warning Areas, see Understanding Warning Areas on page 135.

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Determining the Properties of a Warning Area

To view properties a Warning Area:

1. With the Area Definition dialog box displayed, select a Warning Area. If the Warning Area is enabled, the area will highlight on the Area Map. Refer to Figure 80 on page 167 for details. 2. Observe the Properties panel for information about the selected Warning Area. If the Warning Area is a circle, the center Latitude, Longitude, and Radius of the circle are displayed.

Click to view Email configuration and to test Email addresses. 3. Click Close to complete the operation and to return to the Display.

NOTE The Area Definition dialog box text and text boxes used to enter Lat. and Lon., will display differently depending on whether the Coordinate in DMS option is selected in the General Configuration > Others tab.

NOTE Additional Warning Area properties may be viewed in the Alarms dialog box.

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Figure 80 Selecting a Warning Area and Viewing Area Definition Properties

Note the selected area in the middle of the Warning Area in Figure 80 above.

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CHAPTER 9 UNDERSTANDING ALERTS STATUS

Whenever a condition is met, as defined in the Alarms dialog box for raising the Alert status, the Warning Area goes into an Alert condition. The Alert along with the parameters that raised the Alert status are logged. If a Warning Area is enabled, the Warning Area takes on the style as defined by the "In Alert" style, and can be configured to produce an audible cue.

The Alerts Status window lists all enabled Warning Areas. When in Alert, a red line stretches across the line item (see illustration at the bottom of the page).

To display the Alerts Status window:

1. From the LTS2005 Main menu, select View > Alerts Status. The Alerts Status dialog box displays. 2. Click the Windows Close button to close the dialog box, and return to the Display.

Figure 81 Alerts Status Window

NOTE Check boxes in a column indicate the option has been enabled.

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Table 23 below lists Alerts Status data fields and their associated purpose:. Table 23 Alerts Status—Data Fields Field Purpose Warning Area in Alert

The Warning Area name as specified in the Configuration file

When checked, the Warning Area is visible on the Display

When checked, the PC beeps when the Warning Area is in Alert condition. When checked, a sound is played when the Warning Area is in Alert or Clear condition; or when an ETA is upcoming. You can select from one of three default sounds. You may also use the Windows Browse button to locate and play sound files you have recorded. It is recommended that you place all sound files (Windows 7 may have a different path) in C:\Program Files\Vaisala\LTS2005\sounds. When an Alert Condition begins, the Countdown value is set to the defined number of seconds. This value is updated to reflect the number of seconds remaining until the Alert Condition expires. Once the Countdown value reaches zero (0), the Alert Condition is over. Indicates whether the Alert has been acknowledged (the image of a clock is dimmed when acknowledged). Use the Acknowledge button to acknowledge an Alert condition. This turns the Beep and/or sound file off but the condition remains until its timer counts down to zero. The acknowledgment is recorded in the Alarm log file. Displays current Alert Status.

Determining Current Alerts Status

The Alerts Status window shows if a Warning Area has gone into Alert mode. Use the Alerts Status window to Acknowledge an Alert.

1. From the LTS2005 Main menu, select View > Alerts Status. The Alerts Status dialog box displays. 2. The color red across a line item indicates the Warning Area is in an Alert Status. 3. Click the Windows Close button to complete the operation and return to the Display.

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NOTE Once a line item is in an Alert condition, a clock icon is displayed in the line item . Along with this, the line item turns red. The color red across a line item indicates the item is in an Alert state.

Acknowledging an Alert

1. From the LTS2005 Main menu, select View > Alerts Status. The Alerts Status dialog box displays. 2. Select a source or Warning Area line item currently in Alert mode from the Alert list. A red line and highlighted clock indicate an Alert. 3. In the Acknowledge column, click the appropriate alarm clock icon to disable the beep from the PC. 4. Click the Windows Close button to complete the operation and return to the Display.

Figure 82 Alerts Status Window—In Alert Mode

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Configuring an Alert Condition For a Warning Area

NOTE User-configured Email notification is available when defining an Alert condition for a Warning Area.

This procedure assumes that you have already configured your Warning Areas. Current configuration settings are determined by observing tab parameters when first displaying the Alarms dialog box.

Refer to Table 5 on page 31 and Figure 83 below for Alarms dialog box functions.

1. With the Alarms dialog box displayed, select a configured Warning Area from the WA column.

Figure 83 Configuring An Alert Condition

2. Set the following properties for the selected Warning Area: Enabled—Check if you want to Enable the selected Warning Area. A check mark displays in the Enabled column.

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Visible—Check if you wish the selected Warning Area to be viewable on the Display. A check mark displays in the Visible column. Alert duration time [sec]—Enter a time value from 1 to 3600. The time displays in the Time [sec] column. This is the value used to assign the time period the selected Warning Area is in Alert after the last discharge was received, or a cell was present in a Warning Area. Use sound—Check if you want a sound file to play when the selected Warning Area goes into Alert mode. A check mark displays in the Sound column. The individual sound filenames and paths are displayed in the ETA sound:, Alert sound:, and Clear sound: text boxes. Beep on alert—Check if you want an audible PC beep to occur when the selected Warning Area goes into Alert mode. A check mark displays in the Beep column. ETA Lead time—Enter a value (in minutes) from 1 to 60.

NOTE For the following options to function properly the Warning Area must be first Enabled.

CG—When the Cloud to ground option is selected, the Warning Area goes into Alert mode when a CG event occurs within the selected Warning Area IC—When the Intra cloud option is selected, the Warning Area goes into Alert mode when an IC event occurs within the selected Warning Area. Core—When the Core option is selected, the Warning Area goes into Alert mode when the core of a cell contacts the selected Warning Area. Cell—When the Cell option is selected, the Warning Area goes into Alert mode when a cell makes contact with the selected Warning Area. ETA—When the ETA option is selected, the Warning Area goes into Alert mode when an estimated core or an estimated cell touches the area. 3. For ETA sound, Alert sound, and Clear sound the default sound files provided during installation are used. To use a sound file placed in a different location, either copy the sound file to the

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default LTS2005 sound file location, or click to select another file location.

4. Click to save the changes and exit the dialog box.

Click to save the changes, and leave the dialog box displayed.

NOTE To test the sound used by the LTS2005 application for an Alarm, click next to the appropriate filename and path.

Configuring Email Notification For Specific Warning Areas

LTS2005 provides for Email notification for selected Warning Areas. Email notification by the system allows you to configure an Email notice to be sent a specific address, or multiple addresses, whenever a Warning Area is In Alert, Clear, or when an ETA Warning is issued.

NOTE Prior to sending an Email notification for a selected Warning Area, ensure that you have already configured your SMTP host, Username, and Password in the General Configuration dialog box, Others tab.

1. Select the Tools > Modify Warning Areas Main menu item. The Area Definition dialog box displays. 2. From the Area Definition list box, select the Warning Area you want to configure for Email notification.

3. Click . The E-mail Configuration dialog box displays. 4. Enter the Email address of the recipient in the text box directly above the Add and Remove buttons.

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Figure 84 Configuring Email

5. Select an option for notification from one or all of the following: ETA Warning–The system sends Email to the named recipient when an ETA Warning definition is met for the selected Warning Area. Discharges, cells or cell core on area–The system sends Email to the named recipient when discharges, cells or cell core is detected in the selected Warning Area. Area Clear–The system sends Email to the named recipient when the selected Warning Area goes into a Clear state. 6. Optional–Type in additional information for the system to send in the Additional information text box. 7. Click Add to add the name to the Email addresses list box. Multiple addresses may be added and used. 8. Click OK to save the configuration, close the dialog box, and return to the Display.

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CHAPTER 10 VIEWING LIGHTNING DATA

Data and Warning Area Limits

Data Limits

Data is limited to your subscribed data area or region. Contact Vaisala for information on changing your limit.

Warning Limits

Your can create many Warning Areas, however you should limit the number that are enabled. A high number of active Warning Areas can make the system sluggish or even crash; depending upon system resources.

Warning limits are dependant upon:

- Processor speed - Amount and speed of the on-board RAM - Quality and speed of the graphics display card - Amount of Central data being received - Map size and layers - If a replay is being executed during a heavy period of lightning data acquisition

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Discharge Types

LTS2005 can display lightning data based on discharge type. Each event type is represented by a unique event symbol that changes color as the data ages (see Understanding Data Aging on page 127). Table 24 on page 178 shows the symbol(s) used by LTS2005 to indicate lightning type; depending upon your selection in the Discharge Types dialog box. Table 24 Discharge Type—Display Symbols Symbol Indication Branched cloud lightning (Intra-cloud (IC)). Available for Total Lightning networks only

Cloud lightning (Intra-cloud (IC))

Positive cloud-to-ground lightning event (CG+) (two events indicated here)

Negative cloud-to-ground lightning event (CG-) (two events indicated here)

Initiation points. Available for Total Lightning networks only. Displays the first point in an IC event, or an isolated IC event

IC event nodes. Available for Total Lightning networks only. When selected, the IC count reflects the total number of nodes displayed in the viewable area.

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To display the Discharge Types dialog box:

- From the LTS2005 Main menu, select View > Discharge Types. The Discharge Types dialog box displays.

Figure 85 Discharge Types Dialog Box

Selections made in this dialog box affect displayed density. Density is displayed along with IC data; however density is not displayed when in Cells mode.

To display a specific Discharge Type:

When a check box is checked in the Discharge Type dialog box, subsequent discharges of the type(s) selected are overlaid on the Area Map (see Figure 86 on page 181).

- Selecting the Intra-cloud check box displays cloud lightning events only. - Selecting the Positive cloud to ground check box displays cloud- to-ground lightning events that are positive in polarity only. - Selecting the Negative cloud to ground check box displays cloud- to-ground lightning events that are negative in polarity only. - Selecting the Initiation points check box displays the first point in an IC event (available for 3D networks only). - Selecting the Only IC nodes check box displays event nodes only.

NOTE When using a Total Lightning data source (LDAR, SAFIR or LS8000) and when checking only the Intra-cloud check box, LTS2005 displays dots interconnected with lines to represent the structure of the IC event. When both Intra-cloud and the Initiation points check boxes are checked, only the initiation points of the event are displayed.

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NOTE Initiation points and Intra cloud nodes are visible only when Intra- cloud is selected in the Discharge Types dialog box.

NOTE For information on using event symbols to aid in determining event intensity refer to To use Proportional font symbols to determine event intensity: on page 188.

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Event Display—Appearance

Depending upon the check box(es) selected, LTS2005 displays discharge types as illustrated in Figure 86 below.

Figure 86 Discharge Types—Display

The above image illustrates both positive and negative cloud-to-ground lightning (no IC lightning displayed).

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Refer to Figure 87 below for further detail. Note the Warning Area at the left of the figure.

Figure 87 Events Trigger an Alert

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Determining Coordinates

Center Coordinate of the Current Display Area

1. In the LTS2005 toolbar, click . The Legend dialog box displays. 2. Observe and note the coordinates for latitude and longitude in the Center coordinate panel.

Figure 88 Determining the Center Coordinates

Click the Legend Close button to close the Legend dialog box and return to the Display,

Or: Click on the Display to leave the Legend displayed and return to the Area Map,

Or:

In the LTS2005 toolbar, click again to close the Legend.

NOTE The center coordinate indicated is relative to the portion of the map being displayed and the zoom factor.

NOTE Lat. and Lon. text will display differently depending on whether the Coordinate in DMS option is selected in the General Configuration > Others tab.

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Coordinates of an Event

Method One

1. In the LTS2005 toolbar, click . The cursor goes into Identify

mode . See Figure 89 below and Figure 93 on page 186. 2. Left-click on an event. The Inspector dialog box displays.

Figure 89 Selecting Lightning

3. Obtain event coordinate (Lat., Lon.) information from the center of the Inspector dialog box.

Figure 90 Lat. Lon. Information Using Inspector

4. Click the Windows Close button to complete the operation and return to the Display.

Method Two

This method provides an approximate location of a selected event.

1. In the LTS2005 toolbar, click . 2. Place the cursor directly over an event.

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3. Obtain the latitude and longitude from the LTS2005 Status bar.

Figure 91 Lat. Lon. Information Using Status Bar

NOTE Using either method, Lat. and Lon. text will display differently depending on whether the Coordinate in DMS option is selected in the General Configuration > Others tab.

Current Cursor Position (Latitude and Longitude)

- As the cursor is moved about the map area, the current latitude and longitude can be determined by observing the Lat: Lon: panel in the LTS2005 Status bar.

Figure 92 Current Cursor Position

NOTE Lat. and Lon. text will display differently depending on whether the Coordinate in DMS option is selected in the General Configuration > Others tab. Refer to Lat and Lon Boxes—DMS Option on page 75.

NOTE It is recommended that you zoom in as close as possible to provide greater accuracy when locating coordinates.

NOTE It may be easier to select a specific location if you first toggle the

cursor by selecting . This action toggles the cursor into crosshairs

mode ; providing greater accuracy in your selection.

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Event Date and Time

1. In the LTS2005 toolbar, click . The cursor goes into Identify

mode . See Figure 93 below. 2. Left-click on an event. The Inspector dialog box displays. 3. Observe the center of the Inspector dialog box and note the Discharge date & time the event data was received,.

Figure 93 Inspector Window

4. A more accurate time (decimal seconds) is displayed by Inspector, in the Decimal second line (see Figure 93 on page 186) for the selected event; however, Decimal second must be first selected and defined as a viewable field in the General Configuration dialog box, Identify tab. 5. Click the Windows Close button to complete the operation and return to the Display.

NOTE Lat. and Lon. text will display differently depending on whether the Coordinate in DMS option is selected in the General Configuration > Others tab.

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Event Intensity

List items displayed by Inspector are customized in the General Configuration dialog box, Identify tab.

NOTE The Lat. and Lon. text will display differently by Inspector depending on whether the Coordinate in DMS option is selected in the General Configuration > Others tab.

Method One

To use Inspector to determine event intensity:

1. In the LTS2005 toolbar, click . The cursor goes into Identify

mode . 2. Left-click on an event. The Inspector dialog box displays. If more than one event was selected (as indicated in the top-most line of the dialog box below), use the drop-down list box and Up and Down arrows to move through the list to select an individual event. 3. Obtain Intensity information of the selected event from the Intensity line in the Inspector dialog box. 4. Click the Windows Close button to complete the operation and return to the Display.

Figure 94 Intensity of an Event Using Inspector

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Figure 95 Proportional Font Intensity—Range Categories

Note that 3 events were found in Figure 94 above. Use the information in Step 2 to obtain accurate information on an individual event.

Method Two

To use Proportional font symbols to determine event intensity:

LTS2005 displays event symbols used to identify CG+, CG-, and CC events, in font (symbol) sizes proportional to the intensity of the event (small, medium, large).

Figure 95 on page 188 provides insight into determining event intensity based on the absolute value entered in the Proportional font intensity max text box (maximum intensity=largest symbol). In the example below, assume 50kA (or greater) is entered in the Proportional font intensity max text box, based on the entry, we then divide the value into five Range Categories, 50kA. Therefore, the larger symbol size would represent 40+kA (or -40+kA), while the smallest font represents 0 to 10kA, or 0 to -10kA.

Table 25 below provides a chart describing font size versus intensity. Table 25 Proportional Font Range Categories Category Font Size 0 to 10, or -0 to -10kA Smallest font size 10 to 20, or -10 to -20kA Next to smallest font size 20 to 30, or -20 to -30kA Next larger font size 30 to 40, or -30 to -40kA Next to the largest font size 40 to 50+, or -40 to -50+kA Largest font size

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NOTE Proportional font size is defined in the Proportional font intensity max text box, General Configuration > Others tab.

To display proportional fonts:

- In the LTS2005 toolbar, click . The Display goes into Proportional Symbol mode.

To disable proportional fonts:

- In the LTS2005 toolbar, click once again. The Display reverts to Normal Symbol mode.

Figure 96 Proportional Symbols Used in Determining Event Intensity

Note varying symbol (proportional font) sizes in Figure 96 above.

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Determining the Most Recent Event(s)

LTS2005 flashes a lightning symbol over the Area Map to indicate the most recent event(s), permitting easy identification of new activity on the Display. Refer to Figure 97 below for detail.

To enable the Most Recent Event feature:

Method One

- From the LTS2005 Main menu, select View > Highlight Last Event. A symbol indicates new events.

Method Two

1. Select the Tools > Configuration Main menu item. 2. Click the Others tab.

3. Check .A symbol indicates new events. See Figure 97 below.

Figure 97 Two Examples of Latest Event Symbol(s)

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Event Polarity

Method One

As lightning data is received, the discharge type (polarity) is plotted on the Display using specific symbols to illustrate and identify the event(s). The symbols used are described in Table 26 below. Table 26 Event Polarity Symbols Symbol Polarity Positive cloud-to-ground lightning event (CG+) (two events indicated here)

Negative cloud-to-ground lightning event (CG-) (two events indicated here)

Method Two

1. In the LTS2005 toolbar, click . The cursor goes into Identify

mode . 2. Left-click on an event. The Inspector dialog box displays. 3. If more than one event was selected (as indicated in the top-most line of the dialog box), use the drop-down list box to select an individual event. 4. Obtain lightning Polarity information from the Inspector dialog box (or the drop-down list box as needed).

Figure 98 Event Polarity Information

5. Click the Windows Close button to complete the operation and return to the Display.

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Total Lightning Counts

To determine total lightning counts:

Method One

To use the Status bar to determine total lightning counts:

- Observe and note the middle portion of the LTS2005 Status bar.

Counts displayed are for the viewable Display area. The information is divided into the categories of Total, IC, CG+, and CG-, and the values provided apply only to the data currently displayed in the screen viewing area.

Figure 99 Total Lightning Counts—Status Bar

Method Two

To use the Monitor window to determine total lightning counts:

- With the Monitor window displayed, observe and note the information displayed in the lower left corner of the dialog box. Counts displayed apply only to the area selected in the Area drop- down list box. The information is divided into the categories of Total, Intra-cloud, Cloud-to-ground.

Figure 100 Total Lightning Counts—Monitor

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Viewing Event Information Using Inspector

The parameters listed by Inspector can be customized, see Appendix B, Inspector Window Parameters, on page 269 for more detailed information.

To view event information using Inspector:

1. .n the LTS2005 toolbar, click . The cursor goes into Identify

mode . 2. Left-click on an event symbol. The Inspector dialog box displays. Refer to Figure 101 below for detail. 3. View the data as needed. 4. Click the Windows Close button to return to the Display.

Figure 101 Inspector Window—IC and CG Data

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NOTE Decimal second is used to make the discharge time more accurate.

NOTE Information displayed in Inspector changes when displaying IC data.

No Lightning Found by Inspector

If you select an area where no lightning data is present, a message to that effect displays. See Figure 102 below for detail.

-Click OK to close the message box, and return to the Display.

Figure 102 Nothing Found Message

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Displaying Gradient Colors For Lightning Data Display

You can set Legend colors to display gradient colors instead of solid colors. Refer to Figure 103 below.

Figure 103 Color Key Colors—Gradient

Method One

The gradient colors displayed by the Map Legend, are based on the colors used for the top and bottom solid colors.

1. In the LTS2005 toolbar, click . The Legend dialog box displays.

2. Click to display gradient colors used to indicate the age of the lightning data. 3. Click the Windows Close button to complete the operation and return to the Display.

Method Two

The gradient colors displayed by the Map Legend, are based on the colors selected for the top and bottom Solid colors.

1. From the LTS2005 Main menu, select View > Legend. The Legend dialog box displays.

2. Click to display gradient colors used to indicate the age of the lightning data. 3. Click the Windows Close button to complete the operation and return to the Display.

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NOTE The colors displayed are relative to the time period selected from the Time-period length pull-down menu, and the current PC time.

NOTE Gradient colors displayed by LTS2005, are based upon the colors as defined for solid in the Legend dialog box.

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Displaying Solid Colors For Lightning Data Display

The default Legend colors used by LTS2005 are solid.

Figure 104 Color Key Colors—Solid

Reverting to solid colors from gradient colors

1. In the LTS2005 toolbar, click . The Legend dialog box displays.

2. Click in the Legend to revert to solid colors used to indicate the age of the lightning data.

The first of two consecutive clicks reveals the last change; while the second consecutive click reverts the Legend to the colors as saved in the Configuration file. This function works only while working in the Legend. If you change the current Display view while working in the Legend, (pan, zoom, etc.), then return to the Legend, will no longer function for the first view.

NOTE The colors displayed on-screen are relative to the time period selected from the Time-period length drop-down list box, and the time of the last data received.

NOTE To save the Legend color configuration as part of the Configuration file, select File > Save configuration and save the file.

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Printing the Display Area

Ensure that the printer you are using has been properly configured before printing from the LTS2005 application. Refer to your operating system manual, along with any information that accompanied your printer for information on configuring a specific printer.

Method One

- In the LTS2005 toolbar, select . The Windows Print dialog box displays.

Method Two

- From the LTS2005 Main menu, select File > Print. The Windows Print dialog box displays.

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Predefined Zoom Levels

When you zoom and pan to a specific portion of the Area Map that holds a particular interest to you, you can save the view for later use.

LTS2005 allows you to configure many specific zoom ranges, or zoom targets. The zoom levels can be saved and loaded or removed as needed. You are limited by your hardware resources as to the limit of predefined zooms you can create. Once you have accumulated several predefined zooms, they may be automatically displayed one after another in a sequence, configured by the user, using the Auto-Cycle check box.

NOTE Any change made to predefined zooms is not saved until you save the file using the File > Save configuration item.

To display the Predefined Zooms dialog box:

Method One

- Click in the LTS2005 toolbar. The Predefined Zooms dialog box displays.

Method Two

- From the LTS2005 Main menu, select View > Predefined Zooms. The Predefined Zooms dialog box displays.

Figure 105 Predefined Zooms Dialog Box

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Adding a Predefined Zoom

Creating a Predefined Zoom view allows you to quickly move to an area of concern. If you configure more than one zoom level, they can be displayed in a specific order and time period, or set to Auto-Cycle. Many different zoom levels may be created and saved for later use using the Create Order of Predefined Zooms dialog box. You are limited by your hardware resources as to the limit of predefined zooms you can create.

1. Using (Pan), (Zoom In), and (Zoom Out) in the LTS2005 toolbar, configure the Display around a map region as needed. 2. With the Predefined Zooms dialog box displayed, click . The Zoom dialog box displays. 3. Enter a unique name in the Enter the zoom name text box. 4. Click OK. 5. Click the Windows Close button to complete the operation and return to the Display.

The new zoom level is available for use, and the name is displayed in the Predefined zooms drop-down list box.

Removing a Predefined Zoom

1. With the Predefined Zooms dialog box displayed, select the name of the predefined zoom you wish to delete from the drop- down list box.

2. Click . A Confirm dialog box requesting confirmation displays. 3. Click Yes to remove the zoom from the list. 4. Click the Windows Close button to close the dialog box, and return to the Display.

NOTE Once a predefined zoom is deleted from the Predefined Zooms list, it cannot be undeleted or accessed.

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Selecting a Predefined Zoom Level For Viewing

Method One

1. From the LTS2005 Main menu, select View > Predefined Zooms. The Predefined Zooms dialog box displays. 2. From the drop-down list box select the view you wish to display. The screen updates, displaying the new view. 3. Click the Windows Close button to complete the operation and close the dialog box.

Method Two

1. From the LTS2005 toolbar, click . The Predefined Zooms dialog box displays. 2. From the drop-down list box select the view you wish to display. The screen updates, displaying the new view. 3. Click the Windows Close button to complete the operation and close the dialog box.

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Configuring a Specific Predefined Zoom Sequence

1. With the Predefined Zooms dialog box displayed, click Select Sequence. The Create Order of Predefined Zooms dialog box displays.

Figure 106 Creating a Specific Zoom Sequence

2. From the Available predefined zooms list box, select a predefined zoom you wish to display.

3. Click to add the selected zoom to the Order for Auto- Cycle zoom list box.

Click to remove the zoom and place the selected file in the Current Predefined Zooms list. 4. Repeat the above process until you have all the predefined zooms you want to display, listed in the Order for Auto-Cycle zoom list box. 5. Define the order in which you want the selected predefined zooms to display by selecting a predefined zoom from the Order for Auto-Cycle zoom list box.

Click to move the selected file up one increment in the list.

Click to move the selected file down one increment in the list.

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6. In Cycle Display Time [sec], enter a number between 5 and 10,800 seconds. This is the length of time that each selected zoom is displayed before the next predefined zoom in the list appears. 7. Click OK to accept the changes and close the dialog box. 8. Click the Windows Close button to close the dialog box, and return to the display.

NOTE Only the zoom levels needed for display need be selected.

NOTE Any change made to predefined zooms is not saved until you save the file using the File > Save configuration item.

Length of Time a Predefined Zoom is Displayed

This procedure assumes that you have already created additional zoom views and that you have already created a Specific Predefined Zoom Sequence.

1. In the LTS2005 toolbar, click to display the Predefined Zooms dialog box. Or: From the LTS2005 Main menu, select View > Predefined Zooms to display the Predefined Zooms dialog box. 2. Click Select Sequence. The Create Order of Predefined Zooms dialog box displays. 3. Ensure that the zooms are in the correct sequence that you want them displayed. 4. In the Cycle display time [sec] text box, enter a value between 5 and 10,800 seconds. 5. Click OK to accept the changes and close the Create Order of Predefined Zooms dialog box.

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6. If you want to immediately display predefined zooms, select the Auto-Cycle check box. If not, skip to the next step. 7. Click the Windows Close button to close the Predefined Zooms dialog box.

Synchronize Taking an Image When LTS2005 Changes a Predefined Zoom Level

To change a predefined zoom level:

1. With the General Configuration dialog box displayed, click the Others tab. 2. In the Automatic image save panel, enable the Auto-cycle zoom synch. function.

Selecting causes a new screen shot to be taken whenever a predefined zoom cycles. The Auto-cycle zoom and Automatic image save functions are synchronized. Images are saved to the path displayed in the Automatic image save panel.

Auto-Cycle Predefined Zooms

This procedure assumes that you have already created additional zoom views and that you have already configured a specific zoom sequence.

To enable Auto-Cycle Mode:

1. With the Predefined Zooms dialog box displayed, check the Auto-Cycle check box. The Predefined Zooms dialog box goes into Auto-Cycle mode. Refer to Figure 107 below for detail. 2. Click the Windows Close button to close the dialog box.

Figure 107 Predefined Zooms—Auto-Cycle Mode

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To disable Auto-Cycle Mode:

- Repeat Step 1 and uncheck the Auto-Cycle check box before closing.

NOTE The Display continues to Auto-Cycle as long as the Auto-Cycle option is selected, even when the dialog is closed.

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Querying Lightning Data

You can request detailed flash data in a user-specified time and region for the currently loaded lightning data file.

- In the LTS2005 Main menu, select Tools > Query Data. The Query Data dialog box displays. See Figure 108 below.

When the Date drop-down list box button is clicked, a calendar displays. Click the right or left arrows located in the Month title bar to scroll through the months of the year.

Note request for the maximum of 24-hours of data.

Figure 108 Querying Lightning Data

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Default Date and Time

Default date and time boundaries are set to the current Display location and time. If you want to change the Date, Time or location of the query follow the procedure below.

Query Specific Lightning Data

To query lightning data:

1. In the LTS2005 Main menu, select Tools > Query Data. The Query Data dialog box displays. When the Date drop-down list box button is clicked, a calendar displays. Click the right or left arrows located in the Month title bar to scroll through the months of the year. 2. Select a beginning date from the Start date & time calendar. 3. Select an ending date from the End date & time calendar. 4. Select a beginning time from the Start date & time spin box. 5. Select an ending time from the End date & time spin box. 6. In the Longitude range text box, enter the inner limits of the longitude for the area you want to query. 7. In the Longitude range - to text box, enter the outer limits of the longitude for the area you want to query. 8. In the Latitude range text box, enter the inner limits of the longitude for the area you want to query. 9. In the Latitude range - to text box, enter the outer limits of the longitude for the area you want to query. 10. Click OK to begin the Query process.

When the query is complete, Notepad displays the results as illustrated in Figure 109 below. Table 27 below describes query result fields. Table 27 Data Query—Field Descriptions Date Time Mult Long Lat kA Type Date of file Time of Number of strokes Longitude of Latitude of Magnitude IC or CG stroke in the flash stroke stroke of stroke

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Figure 109 Data Query Results

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CHAPTER 11 VIEWING 3D LIGHTNING DATA

The LTS2005 software permits viewing of 3D lightning data when Secondary is selected in the General Configuration dialog box. A 3Dimension lightning network is required to view and access altitude data. Refer to Figure 110 below, and Figure 120 on page 219 for detail.

The Section3D tool lets the user employ a cutting plane, or rectangle, to select lightning data from the Area Map for viewing in 3- dimensions.The Section3D window also displays 2D lightning data, although it cannot be plotted in three dimensions.

Figure 110 3D Lightning Data Displayed Over Area Map

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Intra-cloud (IC) Data

Intra-cloud lightning data display as a series of nodes interconnected by straight lines (see Figure 111 on page 210). Clicking on a single node displays the Inspector window, which changes the information types displayed to those types related to IC events (see Figure 112 on page 211).

Figure 111 Intra-Cloud Lightning Data—Close Up

NOTE The Vaisala Central Analyzer (Total Lightning Package or TLP) uses all six Discrimination values (0 through 5), Type 97 uses IC and CG data and Discrimination values of 0 and 4, Type 96 uses CG data only and a Discrimination value of 4. The Discrimination value can be obtained by viewing the archive file of an event. For information on Discrimination values, see Discrimination Values on page 214

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Figure 112 IC Data Displayed Over an Area Map With Inspector

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Initiation Points

When both Intra-cloud and Initiation points are selected in the Discharge Types dialog box, only the first point (initiation point) of each event branch is displayed (see Figure 114 on page 213). The Initiation points option can only be used when using a Total Lightning Sensor (LDAR, SAFIR or LS8000).

When using the Initiation points option, Latitude and Longitude information is obtained using Inspector.

Figure 113 Intra-Cloud Lightning Branches

NOTE The Vaisala Central Analyzer (Total Lightning Package or TLP) uses all six Discrimination values (0 through 5), Type 97 uses IC and CG data and Discrimination values of 0 and 4, Type 96 uses CG data only and a Discrimination value of 4. The Discrimination value can be obtained by viewing the archive file of an event. For details on Discrimination values, see Discrimination Values on page 214.

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Figure 114 Initiation Points Displayed Over The Area Map

NOTE For greater accuracy, place the cursor directly over a node before clicking.

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Discrimination Values

LTS2005 (or Central when using a SAFIR sensor) assigns a numeric value (see Table 28 on page 214) to lightning discharges; this value is termed the Discrimination Value.

Figure 115 IC Data

- The total number of nodes associated with an event is listed in Inspector - The Discrimination value represents the location of a stroke within an event - The Discrimination value can be obtained by viewing the archive file of an event. - For greater accuracy, the cursor must be placed directly over a node before clicking

Table 28 below lists possible Discrimination Values and their associated significance. Table 28 Discrimination Values Value Significance 0-10 Isolated intra-cloud (IC) point 1-11 Start of an IC stroke with more than one point 2-12 One of the intermediate points in an IC stroke with more than one point 3-13 End of a multi-point IC discharge 4 A cloud-to-ground (CG) return stroke 5 A cloud-to-ground (CG) subsequent stroke

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IC Node Breakdown

If multiplicity is detected, the first stroke in the flash is stored with a Discrimination value of 4, while subsequent strokes are stored with a Discrimination value of 5. Refer to Table 28 on page 214 for value details.

Figure 116 below provides an "IC nodes breakdown", and is exaggerated for illustrative purposes.

Figure 116 IC Node Breakdown

NOTE A Total Lightning Network employs all Discrimination Values (0 through 5 and 10 through 13). Type 97 will use IC and CG data and Discrimination Values of 0 and 4. Type 96 will use CG data only and a Discrimination Value of 4.

For information on IC data, see Intra-cloud (IC) Data on page 210.

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Selecting Lightning Data For 3D Viewing

Refer to Figure 123 on page 222 for detail.

To select lightning data and display the Section width dialog box:

1. After lightning data is placed over the Area Map, click . A target cursor displays. 2. Place the cursor just outside of the area you want to start the "slice" across the data, and left-click and drag the mouse button. If you have Rectangle selected as the default in the Others tab, 3D tool panel, use a rectangle to select lightning data for viewing. 3. The Section width dialog box displays.

Figure 117 Section Width Dialog Box

4. Enter a value between 0.1 and 1000 in the text box. This is the width of the selection area. Units are defined in the Map panel, General tab, of the General Configuration dialog box.

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Figure 118 Selecting Data

5. Drag the cursor across a section of data, and release the mouse button. The Section3D window displays.

The selected lightning data is displayed across three dimensions (3D) in the Section3D window, as illustrated in Figure 119 below.

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Figure 119 Selected 3D Lightning Data—IC Line

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To close the Section3D window:

- With the Section3D window displayed, in the toolbar, click . The Section3D window closes.

Figure 120 3D Lightning Data Displayed in the Section3D Window

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Section Width Dialog Box

This window allows you to define the limits of your data selection.

To display the Section Width dialog box:

1. Click in the LTS2005 toolbar. The cursor enters Target mode. 2. Place the cursor (first point) before the lightning data you want to capture and drag the cursor across (and a little beyond) the lightning data you want to view in 3D. 3. Release the mouse button. 4. The Section width window displays.

Figure 121 Section Width Dialog Box

5. Enter a value in the Section width in xxx text box between 0.1 to 1000. Any lightning data collected within the selection is displayed by the Section3D window. The window uses the units as defined in the General Configuration dialog box, General tab, Map panel. 6. Click OK. The Section3D window displays. Refer to Figure 122 on page 221 for detail.

Refer to Table 29 on page 223, through Table 31 on page 225, for details on button functions.

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Figure 122 Section3D Window—2D Data Displayed

NOTE Use the mouse scroll wheel to zoom in and out of data in the Section3D window. Note event symbols in Figure 122 above.

NOTE Click to save the file.

NOTE To display terrain detail, the GTOPO30 *.dem files must be located in the demfiles directory. GTOPO30 files are available at the USGS website.

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1 1

2

3

Figure 123 Selecting and Viewing Data in 3D—Progression

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Table 29 Section3D Window—First Row Functions Button Function

A XZ cutting plane view. Displays lightning data inside the cutting plane. Clicking a button orients the viewing plane orthogonally across the XZ axes.

The data view is changed by first clicking on the image, then left-clicking and dragging the mouse. Zoom magnification is changed using the mouse wheel. B -XZ rear view. Displays lightning data inside the cutting plane. Clicking a button orients the viewing plane orthogonally across the -XZ axes.

The data view is changed by first clicking on the image, then left-clicking and dragging the mouse. Zoom magnification is changed using the mouse wheel. C XY top view. Displays lightning data inside the cutting plane. Clicking a button orients the viewing plane orthogonally across the XY axes.

The data view is changed by first clicking on the image, then left-clicking and dragging the mouse. Zoom magnification is changed using the mouse wheel. D Orthogonal view. Clicking orients the data orthogonally E Perspective view. Clicking adds perspective (depth) to the data F Show/Hide IC lightning data using a symbol G Show/Hide CG+ lightning data H Show/Hide CG- lightning data I Show/Hide north to south grid J Show/Hide east to west grid K Show/Hide grid floor L Enable/Disable camera light M Enable/Disable camera light 1 N Enable/Disable camera light 2 O Show/Hide orientation text (map compass points) in the Section3D window P Show/Hide terrain Q Clicking allows you to save Section3D window properties to a configuration file. When LTS2005 is started, the following parameters for IC or CG are reloaded from the saved configuration file: Grid Lights Orientation Terrain (On/Off) and Terrain options

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Table 30 Section3D Window—Second Row Functions Button Function

A Selecting ICLine displays IC lightning data as lines B Selecting IC displays IC lightning data C Selecting CG+ displays CG+ lightning data D Selecting CG- displays CG- lightning data E Enables/Disables the camera lights in the Section3D window. When using Camera Light, the camera aim is oriented to the center of the grid. Clicking displays the Information window, providing you directions when moving the data (target). F Click to display the Light 1 position over the Section3D grid, and to display the Light Manager dialog box.

The Light Manager dialog box allows you to configure the following properties for Light 1: Attenuation Light style Diffuse color Ambient color Specular color G Click to display the Light 2 position over the Section3D grid, and to display the Light Manager dialog box.

The Light Manager dialog box allows you to configure the following properties for Light 2: Attenuation Light style Diffuse color Ambient color Specular color H Selecting displays the terrain map. I Window displaying the four points of the compass (N, S, E, W), and the altitude (Up or Down) relative to your view. Allows you to move the target view. J This function allows you to increase or decrease the altitude of the discharges (data) by clicking on the Up or Down buttons. Used to increase the altitude of events (thus providing greater separation between events). This provides you a better view of data by preventing the data from appearing "flat." Minimum=0.5 Maximum=1000 K Checking instructs LTS2005 to periodically update the displayed section (plane) every xxxx seconds. This function allows you to increase or decrease the Auto update time by clicking on the Up or Down buttons. The minimum setting is 60 seconds. Minimum=60 Maximum=100000

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Table 31 Section3D Dialog Box—Ancillary Windows and Dialog Boxes Window or Dialog Box Function Light Manager dialog box—Display when you click either Cam. light, Light 1 or Light 2 buttons. The Light Manager dialog box allows you to configure the properties of the light falling on the event data.

For information on using the Light Manager, see Light Manager on page 226.

Information window—Associated Information window displaying map compass points. Automatically displays when you click either Cam. light, Light 1, Light 2, Move target, Terrain buttons.

Light Manager dialog box—Displays after clicking on lightning data (node, line, etc.) permitting you to change the viewing characteristics of the data.

For information on using the Object Manager, see Object Manager on page 229.

NOTE The Section3D window is resized using standard Windows procedures.

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Light Manager

The Light Manager (Figure 124 on page 226) allows you to configure the properties of the lighting used in illuminating lightning data in the Section3D window (when lighting is used).

To display the Light Manager:

- With the Section3D window displayed, click any of the following buttons . The Light Manager displays.

Figure 124 Light Manager Dialog Box

NOTE If an option is grayed-out, it is not available.

Modifying 3D Light Properties

Defining Attenuation - With the Light Manager dialog box displayed enter a value in each of the following text boxes:

Const attenuation–Constant attenuation.

Linear attenuation–How much light decreases (fall off) as you move further away from the light source. Uses linear factor in attenuation formula.

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Quadratic attenuation–Uses quadric factor in the attenuation formula.

NOTE Only non-negative values are accepted.

NOTE The attenuation factors of Const=1, Linear=0, Quadratic=0, result in no attenuation.

Defining a Light Style -With the Section3D window displayed, select from the following options using the Light Style drop-down menu.

Spot–Emits a directional cone of light.

Omni–Disperses light evenly in all directions.

Parallel–Two lights are placed parallel to the data and one another.

Changing the Light Color 1. With the Section3D window displayed, click the color key that corresponds to the appropriate light type (Diffuse, Ambient, or Specular). The Windows Color palette displays. Diffuse–Light that is equally-dispersed, or reflected, in all directions. Ambient–Evenly distributed light that provides constant illumination and affects every surface. Unaffected by other light sources. Specular–Light reflected in a narrow cone. Reflects light in one direction only. 2. Select a new color from the Basic colors palette, or create a new one. 3. Click OK. The new color is used.

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Determining Light Position(s)

1. Click any of the following buttons . The Light Manager displays. 2. Light position can now be determined by zooming out of the Section3D window, as illustrated in Figure 125 below.

Figure 125 Determining Light Position

NOTE Use the keyboard left or right arrow direction keys to move the light along either X or Y axis plane. Use the keyboard up or down arrow direction keys to move the light along the Z axis plane.

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Object Manager

The Object Manager (Figure 126 below) allows you to configure the properties of the data (referred to an object in 3D) displayed in the Section3D window. Changes made in this dialog box are reflected in the data displayed.

To display the Object Manager:

- With the Section3D window displayed, click either of the following buttons . The Object Manager displays.

Figure 126 Object Manager Dialog Box

NOTE If an option is grayed-out, it is not available.

To modify 3D Object properties:

-With the Section3D window displayed:

Check any of the following to configure 3D line properties:

Pipe–Check to display multiline IC data using pipes instead of lines.

Show nodes–Check to display multiline IC data using nodes instead of lines.

Show lines–Check to display multiline IC data using lines

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Dot lines–Check to display multiline IC data using dotted lines instead of lines (no effect on pipes).

Figure 127 Object Manager Dialog Box

Size–Represents the size of the element selected (positives values are accepted).

Polygon mode–Check to display the object (IC pipe, standalone IC, CG+ and CG-) using plain polygon (fill), lines or points.

Transparency–Check to Activate the transparency option then use the alpha values to specify the transparency factor.

Alpha–Transparency factor. Enter a value between 0 (transparent) and 1 (opaque).

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CHAPTER 12 CREATING AND SAVING IMAGE FILES

LTS2005 permits you to manually save an image of the currently displayed map area, as well as giving you an option to automatically save image files at regular intervals. The application name, zoom name (if synchronous), current date and time, the number of discharges displayed and the connection status, along with the Vaisala logo are displayed on the saved image.

The following items are also saved in the image file if they are open at the time the image is saved:

- Legend window - Monitor window - Histogram window - Alert status

Saving Images

Automatically Saving an Image— Periodically

NOTE You must be licensed to enable this feature.

To automatically save an image file:

1. With the General Configuration dialog box displayed, click the Others tab.

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2. In the Automatic image save panel (Figure 128 on page 232), check the Enabled check box to enable the function. 3. In the Period text box, enter the time period (in seconds) you want between screen shots. 4. Using the Format drop-down list, select a file type for the saved image file. Supported format types include: .GIF .JPEG .BMP .TIF .PNG .PS 5. Select Auto-cycle zoom synch. if you want to automatically save an image every time the Auto-cycle zoom changes. Automatic image save must be Enabled for this function to operate. When selected, the Period text box is grayed-out; and the image save time period is set to the interval configured in the Create Order of Predefined Zooms dialog box. 6. From the Display mode options, select the Display mode in which you want the image files to be taken.

Figure 128 Automatic Image Save Panel

7. In the Discharges path & name text box (Figure 129 below), enter the path where you want the saved files to be located; or use the default. The default path is: WINDOWS_APPDATA_DIR\VAISALA\LTS2005\img. This is the location where images automatically created in the Discharges mode are saved. 8. To the right of the text box, enter a naming convention you want your files to use, or use the default. 9. In the Density path & name text box, enter the path where you want the saved files to be located, or use the default.

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10. This is the location where images automatically created in the Density mode are saved. 11. To the right of the text box, enter a naming convention you want your files to use; or use the default. 12. In the Cells path & name text box, enter the path where you want the saved files to be located, or use the default. 13. This is the location where images automatically created in the Cells mode are saved. 14. To the right of the text box, enter a naming convention you want your files to use; or use the default.

C:\ProgramData\VAISALA\LTS2005\img\

C:\ProgramData\VAISALA\LTS2005\img\

C:\ProgramData\VAISALA\LTS2005\img\

Figure 129 Save Image Path Panel

15. Click Save & Exit to save the changes and return to the Display.

NOTE WINDOWS_APPDATA_DIR refers to C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data in Windows XP and refers to C:\ProgramData in Windows Vista or 7.

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Manually Saving an Image File

You do not need to be licensed to use this feature; it is always available. All saved images capture the currently displayed map area and zoom level.

1. Pan, move, zoom, etc., to display the portion of the Area Map you want to save as an image file. 2. From the Main menu, select File > Save Image. The Save Image dialog box displays (Figure 130 below).

Figure 130 Save Image Dialog Box

3. Select a format for the image from the Save as type drop-down. Supported format types include: .GIF .JPEG .BMP .TIF .PNG .PS 4. In the File name box, enter a unique name for the image file.

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5. Select a location path for the file to be saved. It is recommended that you create a separate folder for image files. The default path is: WINDOWS_APPDATA_DIR\VAISALA\LTS2005\img. 6. Click Save. The file is saved to the selected location.

Figure 131 Save Image—Example

NOTE Most open dialog boxes displayed over the Area Map are captured in the screen shot.

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CHAPTER 13 USING THE VAISALA LIGHTNING DATA SERVER

Understanding ASCII Output

LTS2005 has an ASCII output function which enables LTS2005 to output data, within a specified region, from a serial port in ASCII format. After LTS2005 has been installed and data is being received from Vaisala, and you have proper licensing, the ASCII Output function can be enabled.

NOTE You must be licensed to enable this feature.

Determining Your Licensed ASCII Output Region

To determine your licensed region:

1. From the LTS2005 Main menu, select Tools > Configuration. The Enter Password dialog box displays. 2. If prompted, enter your password. 3. Click OK to proceed. The General Configuration dialog box displays. 4. Click the General tab. 5. In the Licenses panel, observe and note the Latitude range coordinates under ASCII output region. 6. In the Licenses panel, observe and note the Longitude range coordinates under ASCII output region.

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7. Click Cancel to complete the operation and return to the Display.

Figure 132 Panel Indicating the Licensed ASCII Output Region

NOTE All enabled licensed options are displayed in the Licenses panel.

Configuring LTS2005 For ASCII Output

1. Select the Tools > General Configuration Main menu item. The General Configuration dialog box displays. 2. Click the Others tab. 3. In the ASCII Output panel, select the Enabled check box. 4. In the Listening Port text box, enter the output port number (a value >1024 is recommended). 5. Using the Format drop-down list box, select the appropriate format for your use. 6. Click Save & Exit to save the file changes and return to the Display.

Figure 133 ASCII Output Panel

NOTE Run the netstat command in the Windows Run dialog box, to determine what ports are already in use.

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Verifying ASCII Output

To verify your ASCII region, once licensed:

1. Select the Tools > General Configuration Main menu item. The General Configuration dialog box displays. 2. In the Licenses panel, observe and note the information provided under the ASCII Output Region title.

Figure 134 Licenses Panel

IC Events

In the ASCII data feed, Intra-cloud (IC) events are distinguished by an Intensity value of 0.0. See the red outlined events in Figure 135 below.

Figure 135 ASCII and IC Events

VLDS Window

The Vaisala Lightning Data Server (VLDS) window provides a stand- alone method of configuring and distributing a data feed to one or many licensed copies of LTS2005. The VLDS window also provides a method of distributing an ASCII Output Data Stream (when licensed for ASCII output) when needed. Refer to Figure 136 below for detail.

NOTE ASCII Output is time stamped in GMT.

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To display the VLDS window:

- From your Windows Desktop, click the icon. The VLDS window displays. See Figure 136 below.

Figure 136 Vaisala Lightning Data Server (VLDS) Window—On and Off states

Table 32 on page 240 describes VLDS button functions. Table 32 VLDS Button/Indicator Functions Button/Indicator Function ON/OFF switch for VLDS. The number of active connections is displayed to the right of the Data Server button. Color red indicates OFF Color green indicates ON Color yellow indicates connection attempt, or a problem with the connection. ON/OFF switch for ASCII Output from the LTS2005. Color red indicates OFF Color green indicates ON Color yellow indicates connection attempt, or a problem with the connection.

Hover the mouse over the buttons to display more connection information.

VLDS Configuration Window

To display the VLDS Configuration window:

- With the VLDS window displayed select File > Config.... The Vaisala Lightning Data Server Configuration window displays. Refer to Figure 137 on page 241, for detail.

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You can now view the current configuration of the VLDS; or make changes.

Figure 137 VLDS Configuration Dialog Box

Table 33 below describes VLDS window keys. The keys are located in the left-most column of the VLDS configuration window. Not all available keys are displayed in Figure 137 above

Table 33 VLDS Key Descriptions Key Value Description [General] LogActive Default=1. Defines if and how much .log information to place in the .log file. 1=General information 0=None 2=Debug LogFile Displays the .log path and filename used for placing VLDS .log files. New entries must be contained within the quotes (' '). You must first manually create the .log file using Notepad. [Data Input]

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Table 33 VLDS Key Descriptions (Continued) Key Value Description InServerIP Hostname or IP Address of the Central Data Server. NLDN Terminal Server connected to a satellite PuTTy connection CP LP InServerPort Port that the Data Stream is placed on from the configured InServerIP address. [Socket Server Output] ServerPort Port that VLDS places the shared Data Stream (output). [ASCII Output] LTSServerIP IP address of the LTS2005 where the ASCII output is enabled. LTSServerPort The Port value on the ASCII generating PC that VLDS will get ASCII data from, must match the Listening Port value entered in the Listening Port text box, Others tab, General Configuration dialog box. OutRSComNumber Com port for data output. OutRSComSpeed Data output speed. OutRSComParity Parity bit for Output data.

Displaying VLDS Version Information

- With the VLDS window displayed, click Help > About. The About window displays providing you with VLDS version information. Windows 7 may display a different Program name path.

Click OK to close the window.

Figure 138 About VLDS Window

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CHAPTER 14 LTS2005 REPLAY FUNCTIONS

LTS2005 provides a method for replaying buffered data, or an archived data file over the Area Map. Using one of three Replay functions, or types, LTS2005 permits the replay of buffered or archived lightning data. Refer to Table 34 below for details on Replay types. Table 34 Replay Types Replay Type Purpose Standard Allows you to replay archived lightning data. Live Updates at the end of every loop, up to the current time, then plots all new lightning data received during the replay of the previous loop.

HotKey Allows you to replay recent lightning data (data still in the buffer)

Standard Replay

LTS2005permits viewing archived lightning data. Archive filenames include a time stamp (the time in UTC the data was started) the system uses as a reference when locating files. Once you have selected a replay start and stop time, the LTS2005 Status bar turns blue. LTS2005 accesses the appropriate archive file and loads the data into memory with the time tag of each report used to determine when in time the replay begins. Data can then be replayed backwards or forwards at selected speeds.

For Standard Replay there are options for Start, Stop, Pause, and Resume; along with options allowing you to replay the data at a faster or slower speed. An option to step backwards or continue forwards is provided. Replay progress is displayed in the Progress meter, located directly above the dialog box Status bar.

During the replay, LTS2005 does not check the data being replayed for Warning Areas. LTS2005 continues the real-time operation of

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acquiring and archiving real-time data. LTS2005 performs its usual interrogation of data, and displays real-time Warning Area Alert states in the Alerts Status window.

NOTE The Replay feature can replay 24 hours of data (maximum) at one time.

To display the Replay dialog box:

Method One

- In the LTS2005 toolbar, select . The Replay dialog box displays. Refer to Figure 139 below.

Method Two

- From the LTS2005 Main menu, select Replay > Standard. The Replay dialog box displays.

Figure 139 Replay Dialog Box

The Replay Status bar consists of two panels that display Replay status. The first panel indicates the position of the file, the second panel displays the speed of the replay (when either the Increase or Decrease Speed button is clicked, the new speed is displayed in the Speed panel).

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Table 35 below describes Replay dialog box button functions.

Table 35 Replay Dialog Box—Functions Button Function

Play

Pause

Stop

Move backward in file

Move forward in file

Increase replay speed (default speed is 300 sec.)

Decrease replay speed

Live Replay function

Save to .avi function. Access Build Video function

Minimize dialog box button

Replay status and speed are displayed in the Replay Status bar.

- Replay status and speed are displayed in the Replay status bar. - The maximum replay period allowed is 24 hours. If you specify start and stop times outside this range you are prompted to enter acceptable values. - During Replay, the Replay data time is displayed in the LTS2005 clock. - Once Replay is initiated, the replay file will commence and loop until the replay is stopped.

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- The default Date and Time is displayed when the Replay dialog box displays the previous 24-hour period.

NOTE In all Replay modes, Warning Areas reflect current real-time conditions.

To minimize the Replay dialog box:

- In the Replay dialog box toolbar, click . The Replay dialog box minimizes.

To maximize the Replay dialog box:

1. Right-click on the Replay dialog box title bar. 2. Select Restore from the menu.

Or:

- Double-click on the Replay dialog box title bar.

To close the Replay dialog box:

1. Right-click on the Replay dialog box title bar. 2. Select Close from the menu.

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Replay Speed

Speed is defined as the number of seconds of data displayed in one frame. The Replay function displays data frame by frame. Speed selections range from 1 to 14400 seconds (4 hours). If one second is used, you will see every frame of the original file. If you select a value of 14400 to display 24 hours of data (using the Increase Speed button), Replay will display six screens of data.

- Replay position is displayed in percent in the Replay dialog box title bar. - Replay speed is displayed in seconds at the right-most portion of the Replay dialog box Status bar as indicated in Figure 140 below. Note that a full 24-hours have been defined for replay.

Speed

Figure 140 Determining Replay Speed

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Replaying a Data Video

Videos produced by LTS2005 have a default extension of .avi. Once produced, the video can be replayed on any operating system or application that supports the .avi format. This allows files to be viewed on a variety of machines and permits easy transfer of the file; however, using the included player permits you to move forwards or backwards in the file incrementally.

1. Locate the .avi file you want to play. By default movie files are saved to WINDOWS_APPDATA_DIR\VAISALA\LTS2005\video. 2. Double-click on the .avi filename. The movie plays using the configured default player.

The filename displays in the title bar.

NOTE An LTS2005 created .avi file can be viewed on any operating system or application that supports the .avi format if the XviD codex has been installed from the LTS2005 Installation CD.

NOTE It is recommended that you create a separate folder for storing or archiving LTS2005 videos.

NOTE Refer to your system documentation for information on use of the appropriate player, and controls, for your operating system.

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Selecting a Time Period For Standard Replay

The Status bar indicates when the Display is in Replay mode.

1. With the Replay dialog box displayed, select a beginning date from the From date drop-down list box. When the drop-down list box button is clicked, a calendar displays. Click the right or left arrows located in the Month title bar to scroll through the months of the year (as illustrated below).

Figure 141 Selecting a Time Period For Replay

2. Select a beginning time from the From time Spin box. 3. Select an ending date from the To date drop-down list box. 4. Select an ending time from the To time Spin box. 5. Using the Replay function buttons, replay the lightning data. LTS2005 goes into Replay mode. View the progress of the file in the Progress bar. 6. When done viewing the file, click the Windows Close button to close the Replay dialog box, and return LTS2005 to Real-Time mode.

NOTE LTS2005 can replay up to 24 hours of archived data.

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Live Replay

A Live Replay updates at the end of every loop, up to the current time, then plots all new lightning data received during the replay of the previous loop.

If the New event highlight option is selected in the General Configuration dialog box, Others tab; LTS2005 continues to mark new lightning events as they are received.

To start Live Replay:

Click in the Replay dialog box during the replay to activate the Live Replay function. The Live Replay button blinks when the Live Replay function is activated.

The live replay function will perform a replay loop based on the Time- period length selected in the Legend window. The From and To date and time fields will automatically be adjusted by the live replay function.

Example: If you want your live replay function looping over a 3 hours time window, please follow the steps below:

1. In the Legend window select 30 minutes in the Time-period length drop down:

2. Open the replay window:

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3. Ensuring the replay is not running (grayed Stop button). Click on the Live replay button:

HotKey Replay

LTS2005 allows you to replay data currently in the buffer using the HotKey function. While HotKey Replay is being used a message indicating that HotKey replay is in use is displayed in the Status bar; the message includes the length of time (data) being replayed. The table at the bottom of the page describes HotKey actions.

Press the appropriate Function key to replay data. The Display automatically goes into HotKey Replay mode, and the Status bar turns blue in color, The words HotKey replay, and the replay length (time) are also displayed in the Status bar

Instant replay of lightning data can be accessed by pressing the appropriate Function key. The replay plays once through the selected time period, then the system returns to real-time Display and operations. Depending on the HotKey selected, the mode replays the past 30, 60, 90, or 120 minutes of data. Refer to Table 36 below for detail.

To use HotKeys to Replay Lightning Data:

Table 36 on page 252 describes HotKey replay functions.

- Press the appropriate Function key to replay data. The Display automatically goes into HotKey Replay mode, and the Status bar turns blue. The words HotKey replay, and the replay length (time) are also displayed in the Status bar.

NOTE The HotKey function will not work properly unless the map window is focused. Click the title bar to focus.

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Table 36 below provides information key versus data length. Table 36 HotKey Replay—Data Length HotKey Data length F5 Replays the last 30 minutes of lightning data F6 Replays the last 60 minutes of lightning data F7 Replays the last 90 minutes of lightning data F8 Replays the last 120 minutes of lightning data

HotKey Replay Frame Rates

Each replay is divided into 6 frames; therefore each frame replays two minutes of event data.

Example: Pressing the F5 HotKey replays the last 30 minutes of buffered data starting at 08:40:00, therefore each frame replays two minutes of event data.

Table 37 Replay Frame Rate Versus Time Frame Number Time Period Covered 1 Displays data from 08:10:00 to 08:15:00 2 Displays data from 08:20:00 to 08:25:00 3 Displays data from 08:20:00 to 08:25:00 4 Displays data from 08:25:00 to 08:30:00 5 Displays data from 08:30:00 to 08:35:00 6 Displays data from 08:35:00 to 08:40:00

When the replay is over LTS2005 reverts to Real-Time mode.

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Replay and Query Tools—Date and Time Fields

The Replay tool is capable of replaying up to 24 hours of data. Figure 142 and Figure 143 below, illustrate how time selection affects which data are included versus excluded when querying data.

The time selected for the start of the data query is 09/11/2008 at the specific time of 23:56:55; the end time of the data query is 09/12/2008 at the specific time of 23:56:55.

Data collected from 09/11/2008 at the start time of 23:56:55 through 09/12/2008 at the time of 23:56:54 are replayed; while data collected at 09/12/2008 at the time of 23:56:55 are excluded.

Figure 142 Replay and Query Tool Time Selection—1

Although the time selection is different, Figure 143 below illustrates the same function

Figure 143 Replay and Query Tool Time Selection—1

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Interaction of Map Legend Colors and Replay

As events occur, they are aged on the Display from the oldest to the newest event using colors defined in the Legend dialog box. See Figure 144 on page 255 for detail.

Data Aging and Replay

The Legend is divided into 6 time periods, each represented by a unique color. The colors displayed in the Legend are used for the display of lightning data over the Area Map and in the Histogram. These colors indicate the age of the lightning displayed on the map. Lightning is aged on the time-period boundary; meaning, if you are using 5 minutes as the Time-period length, on every minute that is divisible by 5, 10, 15, etc., the lightning is aged and the most recent color will have no lightning. For a Time-period length of 2 hours, each legend division starts on the hours 2, 4, 6, etc., or 1, 3, 5, etc.

Example: If you use a Legend Time-period length setting of 2 hours, at most there is 12 hours worth of lightning data on the map. If the current time is 15:00, the data displayed will have occurred between 03:00 and 15:00; the full 12 hours. However, if the current time is 14:55, the data displayed will have occurred between 03:00 and 14:55; or 11 hours and 55 minutes. The 5 oldest colors will each have 2 hours of lightning data, but the most recent color will only have 1 hour and 55 minutes of lightning.

Refer to “Understanding Data Aging” on page 127 for greater detail and an illustration of the Data Aging function.

Map Legend Colors and Replay

Replay uses the same color scheme defined in the Legend dialog box. If you have a Legend Time-period length of 1 hour (with 10 minutes refresh period) defined, and replay time selection is between 00:00 to 00:00 next day, the most recent 5 hours 50 minutes to 6 hours of event data are displayed. Every 10 minutes the lightning will age; therefore, if the current time is xx:x0, 6 hours of data are displayed. If the time is xx:x1 only 5 hours and 50 minutes of lightning are displayed.

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Figure 144 Map Legend Color Keys Versus Lightning Data Age

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Build Video Function

LTS2005 allows you to build a video of replayed data. Using the Replay and Build video dialog boxes, you can replay lightning data and make a movie of that data for viewing at a later date.

Build Video Dialog Box

The Build Video dialog box allows you to produce a video in .avi format from selected archive files. The .avi file, once built, is available for viewing with any application that supports the .avi format.

Figure 145 Replay and Build Video Dialog Boxes

To display the Build Video dialog box:

1. From the LTS2005 toolbar, click . The Replay dialog box displays. Or: From the LTS2005 Main menu, select Replay > Standard.

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2. In the Replay dialog box, click . The Build Video dialog box displays and the Display screen resolution is set to 640 x 400 DPI.

Figure 146 Build Video Dialog Box

NOTE After displaying the Replay dialog box, and you load a file for replay, and configure your replay settings, clicking in the Replay dialog box, displays the Build Video dialog box.

- A file name may be entered in the File name text box, while a path is selected using , to display the Save As dialog box. - The Replay Speed (samples/secs) of the completed video can be set from 1 to 100. The higher the value, the faster the data is displayed (default is 9). - You have the option of compressing the file. A compressed video file size is more than 100 times smaller than the uncompressed one.

NOTE After viewing the video once, the replayed video display is behind any open dialog boxes. To view the video again, move the Build Video dialog box to the front of the screen.

For information on building a data video, see Building an LTS2005 Data Video on page 258.

For information on replaying a data video, see Replaying a Data Video on page 248.

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Building an LTS2005 Data Video

Using archived lightning data you can build a video of the data and replay the video as needed for later study:

To build a data video:

1. In the LTS2005 toolbar, click . The Replay dialog box displays, and the Display goes into Replay mode. Or: From the LTS2005 Main menu, select Replay > Standard. The Replay dialog box displays, and the Display goes into Replay mode. 2. Select a starting date from the From drop-down list box. 3. Select a starting time from the From drop-down list box. 4. Select an ending date from the From drop-down list box. 5. Select an ending time from the From drop-down list box.

NOTE If you don’t want the video to start at the beginning of the replay, launch the Replay and click at the place you want the video start.

6. Verify all settings in the Replay dialog box.

7. Click to display the Build Video dialog box.

8. Click to display the Save As dialog box. It is recommended that you create a separate folder for storing and archiving LTS2005 data videos. The default path for storing and archiving data videos is: C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\VAISALA\LTS2005\video (Windows XP) or C:\ProgramData\VAISALA\LTS2005\video (Windows Vista and 7). 9. Enter a filename for the video you are creating in the File name text box. 10. Select the path where you want to save the file. 11. Click Save. The Save As dialog box closes.

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12. In the Build Video dialog box, the file name displays in the text field. 13. Set the Speed (samples/secs) of the Replay from 1 to 100. The higher the value, the faster the data is displayed (default is 9). 14. If you want the file to be compressed, select the Compress check box. 15. A compressed video size is more than 100 times smaller (file size) than the uncompressed one.

16. In the Replay dialog box, click to begin the movie-making process. The Display enters Replay mode. Observe the Progress bar in the Replay dialog box, as well as the Progress bar in the Build Video dialog box.

NOTE The recording will automatically stop after the completion of one loop.

To stop the Build Video recording session:

In the Replay dialog box, click , or click the Windows Close button to complete the operation and close the dialog box.

NOTE Do not forget to close the Build Video dialog box. If you neglect to close the dialog box and relaunch Replay, the previously-created data video file is replaced.

NOTE The MediaPlayer.exe provided in the LTS2005 directory is customized for the replay of LTS2005 video files, and has the ability to step incrementally forwards and backwards through the lightning video.

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NOTE The .avi file can now be viewed on any operating system or application that supports the .avi format if the XviD codex has been installed from the LTS2005 Installation CD.

NOTE For information on video behavior, refer to the ReadMe.txt file on the LTS2005 Installation CD.

Nowcasting

A Nowcast is a short-term weather forecast, generally limited to one hour out or less.

- The direction of displacement, and velocity of cells and cell core, are calculated as defined by the Density refresh period. - Nowcasting is accomplished by analyzing past positions of the cells center. - The future evolution of cells and cell core strength is calculated by analyzing past cell and cell core strength data over the period of time as defined by the Refresh period. - Nowcasting can be displayed with up to 60 minutes in delay. - The size of cells and cell cores can be magnified using the map Legend Zoom function. This aids in determining probable changes in cell or cell core size, and/or direction (not used for ETA calculations). - The Legend must be in Cells mode for Nowcast animations and interval settings.

260 ______M210672EN-D Appendix A ______Commonly Used Map Projections

APPENDIX A COMMONLY USED MAP PROJECTIONS

A projection refers to a method of reducing the distortion that occurs when objects from a spherical surface are displayed on a flat surface (coordinate system). There are many different types of projections, each designed to reduce the amount of distortion for a given area.

Many types of projections are used in mapping and information gathering activities. The links below provide information on some of the most commonly used map projections.

Examples of the following projections are included:

- Mercator Projection (see Mercator Projection on page 262) - Regional Equal-Area projection (see Regional Equal-Area Projections on page 263) - UTM (WGS84) projection (seeUTM (WGS84) Projection on page 265) - US State Plane projection (seeUS State Plane Projection on page 267)

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Mercator Projection

This projection is suitable for a large area. The projection becomes distorted near the poles and seems to be most useful between 45 degrees North latitude and 45 degrees South latitude; however, it will still provide a usable map beyond those latitudes. If you need to view an area that encompasses several countries or crosses continents, this projection is a good one to use.

Figure 147 Mercator Projection of the World

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Regional Equal-Area Projections

This type of projection is a good choice for a local area the size of one country or small continent. You must remember to select the appropriate country/region or you will be viewing a distorted map. These projections do not work well for large areas.

Refer to Figure 148 below for an example of a continent-sized area. Figure 149 on page 264 provides an example of the distortion that occurs if used over too large an area.

Figure 148 Regional Equal-Area Projection—India

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Figure 149 Regional Equal-Area Projection—World View

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UTM (WGS84) Projection

This projection is popular and is suitable for areas smaller than a continent. It begins to noticeably distort at coverages larger than 20 to 25 degrees longitude. You must know what zone number your view is located in and select the Northern or Southern hemisphere. This projection does not work well for large areas.

Refer to Figure 150 below, and Figure 151 on page 266 for an example of a small area, and the type of distortion that occurs at the world level.

Figure 150 UTM (WGS84), Zone 13, Northern Hemisphere

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Figure 151 UTM (WGS84), Zone 13, Northern Hemisphere Showing the Area Around 105 Degrees West

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US State Plane Projection

This projection/coordinate system is used for the United States only. It works very well for small areas (including areas of up to one state in size). It is important to note which zone within the state is being used and the units of measure. Changing the zone within the state can make a significant difference in the appearance of the map and change the meaning of the coordinate values used for placing features. Refer to Figure 152 below for detail.

This projection does not work well for large areas. Refer to Figure 153 on page 268 for an example of the distortion that occurs if used over too large an area.

Figure 152 US State Plane Coordinate System (1983, meters), Showing Oklahoma North Region

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Figure 153 US State Plane Coordinate System (1983, meters), Showing The World

268 ______M210672EN-D Appendix B ______Inspector Window Parameters

APPENDIX B INSPECTOR WINDOW PARAMETERS

The parameters displayed by Inspector are user-selectable in the Identify tab, of the General Configuration dialog box. Note the value or unit displayed for the selected item in the Unit text box. Refer to Figure 154 below for detail.

Table 38 on page 270 describes Identify parameters available to you. Parameters made available to you are dependant on the Data Type selection in the Connections tab, General Configuration dialog box.

Figure 154 Identify Tab

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Table 38 Inspector Dialog Box—Parameters Parameter Unit of available Measure when using Panel Parameter Comments (see NOTE the following following this table) data feed Intra cloud Detection error 97 and For 97: If 1 then the semi-major axis is m Secondary too long (>10km) or the Chi square is too large (>7). For Secondary: Position detection error. Position 1 Secondary Number of first sensor used for localization. Position 2 Secondary Number of second sensor used for localization.

Intra cloud Decimal second 97 and Decimal portion of the second; or the ms node Secondary exact time the stroke occurred. Altitude Secondary Altitude of the node m Altitude Error Secondary Altitude detection error m Cell ID Secondary Reserved for future use. Cell number to which this source belongs; as it is derived from the cell tracking algorithm (0 when not known). Source Power Secondary Source power dBm Cloud to Detection error 96/97 and Same as IC m ground Secondary Decimal second 96/97 and Same as IC node Secondary Multiplicity 96/97 and Number of strokes in a flash. Secondary Stroke multiplicity if flash data Stroke data =0 For Secondary: All the strokes of a flash are displayed and have a multiplicity of 1. Intensity 96/97 and Amperage value of the stroke kA Secondary Intensity Error Secondary Error of intensity measurement kA Rise Time Secondary The time from when the lightning stroke micro reaches the Enable threshold until the second(s) time it reaches the peak. Decay Time Secondary The time from when a signal reaches its micro Peak value, to when the signal second(s) recrosses the Zero level. Amplitude Secondary Field strength V/m Position 1 Secondary Same as IC Position 2 Secondary Same as IC Measurement Secondary Number of third sensor used for localization. And station used for measures.

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Table 38 Inspector Dialog Box—Parameters (Continued) Parameter Unit of available Measure when using Panel Parameter Comments (see NOTE the following following this table) data feed Cell ID Secondary Same as IC node Total Detection error Secondary Same as IC Lightning Decimal second Secondary Same as IC node ms Str Number Secondary Flash ID for grouping algorithm m Source Power Secondary Same as IC dBm Chi Square Secondary A statistical measurement of how much deviation exists between sensor data in calculating a lightning stroke location. Relative Index Secondary Relative index of the source to be connected to as it comes from the flash algorithm. Altitude Secondary Same as IC node m Altitude error Secondary Same as IC node m Sensor number Secondary Sensor ID number Cell ID Secondary Same as IC node

NOTE The indicated unit of measurement is considered and displayed as a label or you can change or rename the unit in the Identify tab, Unit text box. However, it is recommended that where appropriate you accept and use default values.

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272 ______M210672EN-D Appendix C ______Glossary

APPENDIX C GLOSSARY

This glossary includes:

- Explanations of some general meteorological terms - Explanations of some general technical terms - Descriptions of LTS2005 components and concepts - Explanations of the terms used in LTS2005 specifications

2D Having to do with two dimensions. These dimensions are usually along the x and y axes.

3D Having to do with three dimensions. These dimensions are usually along the x, y, and z axes.

AOC Acronym for Area of Concern.

Alert A triggered condition for Warning Areas. area of An area, or areas, selected for monitoring by LTS2005. concern

VAISALA ______273 User’s Guide ______archived data A repository of stored lightning data. attenuation To make finer, or lessen in density. bulletin A brief report or update issued for immediate or urgent broadcast. The Bulletin may require immediate action by the recipient.

CG Cloud-to-ground lightning.

CP Central Processor.

CEN Central Analyzer. central Calculates locations of lightning events from sensor data and outputs the raw analyzer and processed lightning data and sensor status information to a storage device, printer, or display. The central analyzer, or processor, is the hardware that processes the data received from the sensors. Central estimates peak current of each stroke, its polarity, location, and other waveform features. central Collects data from each sensor, compares the time the event was recorded by processor each sensor (ensuring data applies to the same event), then computes the precise location where CG lightning has occurred. chi square A statistical measure of how much deviation exists between sensor data in calculating a lightning stroke location cloud-to- Can be either positive (+) or negative (-) in polarity. Referring to lightning ground that originates usually in a cloud formation, then extends to earth (a lightning lightning flash occurring between a charge center in the cloud and the ground). On an annual basis, negative charge is lowered to ground in about 95% of the flashes, the remaining flashes lowering positive charge to ground. This type of lightning flash, which can be contrasted with an intra- cloud flash or cloud-to-cloud flash, consists of one or more return strokes. The first stroke begins with a stepped leader followed by an intense return stroke which is the principal source of luminosity and charge transfer. Subsequent strokes begin with a dart leader followed by another return stroke. Most of the strokes use the same channel to ground. The time interval between strokes is typically 40 milliseconds. configuration File that contains information that configures or informs your workstation file and systems about basic setup, preferences, paths, and so on.

274 ______M210672EN-D Appendix C ______Glossary data source A device that creates and outputs data. decay time The time from when a signal reaches its Peak value, to when the signal recrosses the Zero level.

ETA Estimated Time of Arrival. Once a Warning Area is defined, and as soon as LTS2005 calculates cell velocities, LTS2005 then calculates if and when a cell will impact a Warning Area. estimated Once a Warning Area is defined, and as soon as velocities of cells have been time of arrival calculated, LTS2005 can calculate if and when a cell can impact a Warning Area. event A lightning discharge. A short duration radiation pulse that is detectable by means of a lightning detector/sensor. flash The entire cloud-to-ground electrical atmospheric discharge. A flash may include one or more strokes and high current pulses called return strokes. Duration of a flash is usually less than one second.

GIS Acronym for Geographical Information System.

GMT Acronym for Greenwich Mean Time. See also UTC.

Geographical A system for efficiently creating, manipulating, analyzing, and displaying Information geographic or spatially referenced data. System

Greenwich Also known as Universal Coordinated Time (UTC). Mean Time

IC Intra-cloud event.

IP address Internet Protocol Address. This address, consisting of a combination of one to three-digit numbers delimited by three periods, identifies the address of a specific workstation so that data may be exchanged through the Internet. Examples: 11.333.435.987 or 2.23.45.678.

VAISALA ______275 User’s Guide ______intra-cloud Referring to lightning occurring within cloud formations, or from one cloud to the next. A lightning discharge occurring between a positively charged region and a negatively charged region, both of which may lie in the same cloud. The most frequent type of cloud discharge is one between a main positive charged region and a main negative charged region. Cloud flashes tend to outnumber cloud-to-ground flashes. In general, the channel of a cloud flash will be wholly surrounded by cloud. Hence the channel's luminosity typically produces a diffuse glow when seen from outside the cloud and this widespread glow is called sheet lightning. Also called intra- cloud flash, and cloud-to-cloud flash.

LP The LPxxxx (Lightning Processor xxxx) controls, manages and monitors a lightning detection network. It evaluates, determines performance of network sensors, processes lightning raw data, computes lightning positions, and sends this data to client applications. latitude An angular measurement between imaginary circular lines on the earth's surface (parallel to the equator) running east and west. lat. lon. Latitude-Longitude. Lines of latitude extend in an east-west direction and measure distance in degrees from 0 to +90 degrees and from 0 to -90. Lines of longitude extend in a north-south direction and measure distance in degrees from 0 to +179 and from 0 to -179 with 180° longitude being 1° distance from +179° and 1° from -179°.

276 ______M210672EN-D Appendix C ______Glossary lightning Briefly, an abrupt, discontinuous natural electric discharge in the atmosphere. Lightning produces a sound wave that is heard as thunder. More completely, lightning is a transient, high-current electric discharge whose path length is measured in kilometers. Well over half of all lightning discharges occur within the thunderstorm cloud and are called intra-cloud discharges. The usual cloud-to-ground lightning, sometimes called streaked or forked lightning, has been studied more extensively than other lightning forms because of its practical interest, as the cause of injuries and death, disturbances in power and communicating systems, and the ignition of forest fires. Cloud-to-cloud and cloud-to-air discharges are less common than intra-cloud or cloud-to-ground lightning. All discharges other than cloud-to- ground are often lumped together and called cloud discharges.

Positive and negative leaders are essential components of the lightning. Only when a leader reaches the ground does the ground potential wave (return stroke) affect the lightning process. lightning The total observed lightning discharge generally has a duration less than one flash second. A single flash is usually composed of many distinct luminous events (strokes) that often occur in such rapid succession that the human eye cannot resolve them. lightning In a cloud-to-ground discharge, a leader plus its subsequent return stroke. In stroke a typical case, a cloud-to-ground discharge is made up of three or four successive lightning strokes, most following the same lightning channel. longitude An angular measurement between imaginary circular lines (parallel to the poles) on the earth's surface running north and south. map layers A geographic map is composed of many layers. Each layer adds more information to the map. Layers can be visualized as stacked on top of each other. The display of a layer shows one geographic feature and can be controlled and manipulated. map The projection of a spherical surface upon a flat surface. Mercator projection projection is the most commonly used projection for Vaisala software products.

Mercator A map projection wherein the lines of latitude and longitude are straight and projection parallel. While the lines of latitude are always equal distance from each other on a globe, the lines of longitude become closer to each other as the projection moves from the equator to the North or South. At 60 degrees north or south, the horizontal distance between lines of longitude is half the distance between longitude lines at the equator.

VAISALA ______277 User’s Guide ______message A short communication requiring no immediate action. multiplicity Multiplicity is shorthand for the number of strokes in a flash. Also called stroke multiplicity.

NLDN National Lightning Detection Network®.

National A network consisting of over 100 lightning detection sensors strategically Lightning located throughout the contiguous United States. The NLDN provides both Detection real-time data and archived lightning information. Real-time lightning data Network® is provided on a subscription basis and broadcast using a satellite to forward information from the Network Control Center located at the Vaisala office in Tucson, Arizona. node A node, as applied to LTS2005, is a representation on the Display of IC lightning. With the node representing a point (dot on the Display), of origin. ortho Having to do with right angles. A two-dimensional representation of an object using perpendicular lines. perspective Represents three-dimensional objects and depth associations on a two- dimensional surface. real-time data Lightning data that is received, filtered, and formatted as it occurs in nature. The only time delay is due to the communication method and computation time. return stroke The current pulses that transfer charge along highly luminous channels between cloud and ground during a cloud-to-ground flash. rise time The time from when the lightning stroke reaches the enable threshold till the time it reaches the peak.

SAFIR Acronym for Surveillance et Alerte Foudre par Interferometrie Radioelecrique (Lightning Monitoring and Warning using Radio Interferometry) The SAFIR 3000-2 LF/VHF lightning sensor locates lightning using the time-of-arrival method for LF sensing and the interferometric method for VHF sensing.

SCM SAFIR Central Module.

278 ______M210672EN-D Appendix C ______Glossary semi major A statistical measure of how much deviation exists between sensor data in axis calculating a lightning stroke location

sensor Any kind of lightning detector, for example, IMPACT, LPATS, SAFIR, LDAR. Lightning detectors may detect lightning by measuring direction, timing, signal strength, or some combination thereof. threshold A point (baseline) separating two or more conditions that will produce a given effect. time-stamp The date and time applied to an event. total lightning The entirety of lightning activity in a storm. Total lightning detection involves detecting events, which are components of flashes. These components include breakdown processes and return strokes. Total lightning information may be represented to the user as 2D flash data.

UTC Acronym for Universal Time Coordinated.

Universal A known standard, Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), also known as Time Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) or Zulu Time, is used by LTS2005 to time Coordinated stamp incoming lightning data. Midnight (0000 UTC) starts the 24 hour clock at the zero meridian.

WA Warning Area.

Warning Area A user-defined area of concern.

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280 ______M210672EN-D Appendix D ______Introduction To Lightning Detection

APPENDIX D INTRODUCTION TO LIGHTNING DETECTION

Lightning Phenomena

The following discussion provides a basic introduction to lightning phenomena and measurement technology.

Lightning is the rapid transfer of significant charge between two regions kilometers apart. Lightning can occur as cloud discharges and cloud-to-ground (CG) flashes. Of these, CG lightning has the greater impact on our daily lives.

Anatomy of a CG Lightning Flash

A cloud-to-ground flash is typically composed of a sequence of individual return strokes which transfer significant charge from the cloud to ground, each stroke exhibiting peak currents in the range of a few kiloamperes to 300 kiloamperes. These strokes each have a nominal duration of 20 to 50 microseconds, and are typically separated in time by 20 to 100 milliseconds. A flash is typically comprised of 2 to 4 strokes, but may contain as few as one and as many as fifteen or more strokes. The number of strokes in a flash is frequently referred to as the flash multiplicity. For many flashes, the subsequent strokes (strokes which occur after the first stroke of a flash) contact the earth at the same strike point as the first stroke because they travel through the channel established by the first stroke. However, 30 to 50% of all flashes contain strokes that produce different ground strike points, separated by a few hundred meters to several kilometers or more. For

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practical purposes, some researchers have defined a flash as the ensemble of all cloud-to-ground strokes that strike within 10 km of each other within a one second interval. For further information, see Cummins, et al., 1998.

Radio Frequency Characteristics of Lightning

Cloud discharges and cloud-to-ground (CG) flashes both emit radio frequency (RF) energy over a wide range of frequencies. During the processes that create new channels, there are strong emissions in the VHF range. When high currents occur in previously established channels (e.g., return strokes), the most powerful emissions occur in the LF and VLF ranges. Figure 155 below1 illustrates the radiation field pulse activity in the VLF, LF, MF, and VHF frequency ranges.

Figure 155 CG and Cloud Flashes at Various Frequency Ranges

1 Adapted from Malan (1963).

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In the LF and VLF bands, the radiation fields from cloud-to-ground strokes are strongest because of their channel length and large currents. Consequently, there are only a few large pulses per flash. Cloud discharges produce tens to hundreds of small pulses (~ 5% of the median amplitude of return strokes) in the LF range, and occasionally will produce pulses that are comparable in magnitude to return strokes. By contrast, there are approximately 100 times as many pulses in the VHF band as in the LF and VLF, and the amplitudes of the pulses produced by cloud discharges are comparable to those of CG flashes. VHF radiation is produced by breakdown processes that have dimensions on the order of tens to hundreds of meters and relatively small currents. Usually, relatively little VHF pulse activity is associated with the high-current components of lightning such as the return strokes.

Given the differences in the pulse rates and amplitudes at the different frequencies, different techniques are better suited for detecting different processes in cloud and CG flashes, as shown in Figure 156 below.

Figure 156 Relationship, Frequency and Lightning Detection Method

The LF and VLF signals that propagate along the surface of the earth have been used to detect and locate return strokes in CG flashes for many years. Sensors that operate in the LF and VLF range can also be used to detect and locate cloud flashes, although, as described above, the signals are normally much smaller than those of return strokes. LF and VLF sensor technology has been applied to the detection of CG

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return strokes by detecting the VLF signal components that propagate thousands of kilometers and reflect between the ionosphere and the ground. This long-range propagation allows some CG lightning to be detected in remote areas where sensors cannot be installed.

Sensors that operate in the VHF band are equally sensitive to most processes in both cloud and CG flashes. Because of the line-of-sight propagation of VHF signals, these sensor networks have a limited range. However, the line-of-sight propagation, together with the fact that VHF impulses are of short duration, allows VHF sources to be modeled as point sources and located in three dimensions as described in section VHF Detection on page 292. In addition, the large number of pulses per flash in the VHF range means that the flash geometry can be mapped in detail.

Uses of Lightning Data

Lightning is powerful. A lightning stroke can kill people, animals, and trees, destroy equipment, start fires, and disturb or disable power delivery systems. Real-time lightning data can be used to trace the evolution and movement of storms. It can also be used to anticipate the arrival of a thunderstorm and hence to help manage its destructive potential.

The following are a few examples of groups that can benefit from lightning data:

- Air traffic managers - Weather monitoring and severe weather warning service providers - People engaged in any outdoor activity, such as water sports, playing golf, hiking, and using outdoor amusement rides where lightning could pose a hazard - Forest managers who need to predict fire-start potential - Outdoor construction and maintenance workers who might be exposed to lightning - Refueling, munitions, and pyrotechnic workers where lightning might cause premature ignition - Power utility staff involved in lightning protection and repair crew management - Fault analysts that correlate events (such as power line faults) with lightning strokes to determine if the event was lightning caused

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- Utility planners for power line routing and lightning protection systems - Insurance companies verifying claims for lightning damage

LF/VLF Lightning Location Methods

The following discussion summarizes the methods used by Vaisala to detect and locate lightning over large areas using signals in the LF and VLF frequency ranges. These methods are used primarily for locating CG flashes.

A Brief History

All existing methods for determining the position of individual cloud- to-ground (CG) lightning strokes are based either on direction finding or time-of-arrival methods, or a combination of these methods.

Early work in applying time-of-arrival for locating lightning was published by Lewis et al. (1960) and Oetzel et al. (1969), although U.S. patents on various implementations of hyperbolic methods for locating lightning date back to the early 1950s. An advanced version of this methodology is being used in current Vaisala systems.

Work in applying magnetic direction finding for locating lightning dates back to the 1920s (Watson-Watt and Herd, 1926; see also, Horner, 1957). In 1976, a more accurate magnetic direction finding (DF) system was developed for locating CG lightning within a range of about 500 km (Krider et al., 1976 and 1980). This system operated in the time-domain (covering the LF and VLF bands from about 1 to 500 kHz and was designed to respond only to field waveforms that were characteristic of the return strokes in CG flashes. When such a field was detected, the magnetic direction was sampled at the time of the initial field peak so that the direction vector pointed as closely as possible to the onset of the stroke, to the place where the stroke struck ground. The electric field was also sampled at this time to determine the stroke polarity. When employed in a network of DFs, the location of the stroke could be estimated from the measured components of the peak field.

As with time-of-arrival, there are several U.S. patents on specific methods for location by direction finding. Vaisala manufactures systems that include this technology. The basic principles for these two

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methods are discussed in the following sections, along with methods which combine them.

Basic Direction Finding

Direction finding systems employ two or more sensors which measure the azimuth (angle from true north) between the sensor and the lightning stroke. The azimuth is typically determined through the use of two orthogonal magnetic loop antennas. When three or more sensors report a discharge, an optimization procedure which minimizes the angle errors of the reporting sensors can be employed. Figure 157

below illustrates the outcome of this procedure. The three points (L12,

L13, and L23) show the possible locations that would be computed if only two sensors were to report a discharge; each of the three location points is referred to as a triangulation or intersection.

S2

S1

S3

Actual Stroke Location

L12 Lij — Intersection of L13 Azimuths from Si and Sj L 23 Optimal Estimate

Figure 157 Optimal Location Algorithm for Magnetic Direction Finding

There are certain conditions where the geometrical relationship between direction-finding sensors and the lightning discharge location produce poor results. Specifically, if the discharge occurs along a line between two sensors, and these sensors are the only ones to sense the discharge, then errors in azimuth measurement can result in significant errors in location. In some circumstances the measurements may not produce an intersection at all. Because of this baseline problem, practical networks employ at least three sensors.

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Basic Time-of-Arrival

Time-of-arrival systems produced by Vaisala employ a two-step iterative process using four or more sensors that measure the arrival time of the lightning stroke. The onset (arrival time) of the signal at a sensor is the sum of the time of occurrence of the lightning event (onset of the return stroke for CG lightning) and the travel time from the event location to the sensor location.

The first step is a hyperbolic intersection method in which each pair of sensors yields a hyperbolic curve describing the set of possible latitude/longitude locations (locus of points) which satisfy the difference in arrival time (Si – Sj) between the sensors in the pair (see Figure 158 below).

Possible Locations S1 - S2 S1 - S2

S S 1 Stroke 1 Stroke Position

S S2 S2 3

S3 - S1

Figure 158 Hyperbolic Intersection

Given two such curves produced by three sensors, it is possible to determine a position from the intersection of these curves, as shown in Figure 158 above, as well as the time at which the discharge occurred. However, under some geometrical conditions, curves produced from only three sensors result in two intersections, leading to an ambiguous location as shown in Figure 159 below; this problem is avoided if four or more sensors detect the discharge.

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S1

S2 S3

True Position False Position

Figure 159 Ambiguous Location, 3-Sensor Hyperbolic Intersection

The next step in the iterative lightning location algorithm employs a circular intersection location method involving both the estimated location and estimated time of the lightning discharge determined from hyperbolic intersection. In this situation, the difference between the estimated discharge time and the measured arrival time at each sensor provides information which establishes a distance (range) of the discharge from the sensor, thus producing a circular locus of possible locations for each sensor (see Figure 160 on page 289). If only three sensors detect lightning, the position and time of the discharge that causes all the circles to intersect are identical to the initial estimates of position and time given by hyperbolic intersections.

When more than three sensors report, the time-of-arrival algorithm can produce an optimized solution (see Figure 161 on page 289). In addition, the circular intersection method is readily generalized to work in conjunction with angle measurements, as discussed in the next section.

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S1 Stroke Position

S S2 3

Figure 160 Circular Intersection Using Three Sensors

S2

S3 S1

S4 Stroke Position

Figure 161 Circular Intersection Step Using Four Sensors

Improved Accuracy from Combined Technology

A method for combining direction finding and time-of-arrival methods has been developed to produce yet another lightning location method, which we refer to as the IMPACT method. In this approach, direction finding provides azimuth information, while absolute arrival time provides range information. Azimuth and range information are employed simultaneously in a generalization of the circular

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intersection method, employing all available data, to obtain optimal estimates of the CG discharge location. This approach does not suffer from the problems inherent with the methods described in the previous two sections when they are used separately.

As an example, a discharge that occurs between two sensors, along their baseline, is precisely located by the intersection of the azimuth vectors and range circles, as shown in Figure 162 below. In this figure, θ the azimuth information for sensor S1 is the angle 1, and the range value (based on absolute arrival time) is r1. It is important to note that in this example there are four measured parameters: two angles and two arrival times. These measurements produce three estimated parameters: latitude, longitude, and discharge time. Thus, the IMPACT method has redundant information which allows for an optimized estimate of location even in the minimal situation where a discharge is detected by only two sensors. Evaluations of this method have shown that this combined method outperforms either the direction-finding or time-of-arrival method by itself, both in its location accuracy and in its probability of detection.

r1 r2

θ 1 S2 S θ 1 2

Stroke Position

Figure 162 IMPACT Method on a Baseline Between Two Sensors

The IMPACT algorithm can utilize information from any combination of direction finding (DF), TOA, or combined (DF/TOA) sensors. Figure 163 on page 291 shows a typical lightning stroke in Florida that was detected by five sensors in the U.S. National Lightning Detection Network (NLDN)—three IMPACT and two LPATS (TOA) sensors. The direction measurements are shown as straight-line vectors, and range circles centered on each sensor represent the TOA measurements.

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Figure 163 IMPACT Method: 3 LPATS TOA, 2 IMPACT Sensors

Stroke Peak Current

Once the location of a CG stroke is known, the peak magnetic field can be used to estimate the stroke peak current. Since the peak magnetic field at the stroke location is proportional to peak current (Uman et al., 1975), and the propagation distance can be calculated from the stroke location, it is possible to compute a range normalized signal strength (RNSS) that is directly proportional to peak current. RNSS is the measured signal normalized as if the lightning stroke had occurred 100 km from the sensor (Idone et al., 1993). For the National Lightning Detection Network (NLDN), data are normalized using the formula:

⎛⎞Range To Flash β Range to Flash– 100 km RNSS= Measured Signal × ------× exp ------⎝⎠100 km λ

Where β and λ are empirically derived constants.

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The RNSS can be converted to kiloamperes using the formula:

× kiloamperes= k1 RNSS

Where k1 has the value 0.185, derived experimentally. This process is consistent with electromagnetic theory and a simple transmission line model of how current propagates in the channel (see Thottappillil and Uman, 1993). Its results are in good agreement with measurements in Austria by Diendorfer et al. (2002), and in rocket triggered lightning studies carried out at Camp Blanding, Florida.

VHF Detection

By detecting high-frequency radio emissions (VHF), it is possible to reconstruct the geometry of the cloud discharge in two or three dimensions using direction-finding or time-of-arrival (TOA) location methods as discussed in the following sections. In these VHF lightning mapping systems, the focus is on detailed discharge structure, but the information about polarity, charge, and current magnitude is lost. VHF location methods offer advantages, both for early warnings and for research, particularly in local regions, and for those phases of the discharge that occur within the cloud. The VHF systems also have the ability to provide a large amount of information about the initial occurrence of lightning and the evolution, intensity, and configuration of the overall storm.

Direction Finding Based on VHF Interferometry

A radio frequency interferometer measures the azimuth and (optionally) elevation angles of lightning sources at VHF frequencies. An interferometer uses differential phase in a narrow bandwidth between closely spaced antennas to determine azimuth/elevation, and then employs direction finding to determine the location of individual lightning emissions (sources) (Hayenga et al., 1981; Rhodes et al., 1994; Shao et al., 1995).

Multiple-station networks of interferometers have been developed by Vaisala to locate and map the sources of VHF radiation (both cloud and CG flashes) in two- or three-dimensions with high time resolution (see

292 ______M210672EN-D Appendix D ______Introduction To Lightning Detection

Richard et al., 1988 and 1989). As with LF/VLF direction finding, the location accuracy of these systems is dependent on sensor spacing.

Both 2D and 3D location of sources can be obtained by triangulation among angular directions given by different stations (see Figure 164 on page 293).

Figure 164 Triangulation for Interferometric Location

Wide Baseline TOA Methods Operating at VHF

When the difference in the time-of-arrival of an RF emission is measured at four widely spaced (several kilometers) stations that are precisely synchronized, the location of the source can be determined in three dimensions (Proctor, 1971). This location method is a direct extension of the two-dimension hyperbolic intersection method that was discussed in section Basic Time-of-Arrival on page 287. When five or more sensors report an event, the time-of-arrival algorithm can produce an optimized solution.

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The NASA Kennedy Space Center developed the first real-time operational of a system of this type, called Lightning Detection and Ranging (LDAR). The LDAR system is capable of providing three- dimensional locations of more than a thousand RF pulses within each lightning flash (Lennon et al., 1991 and Maier et al., 1995). In this system the data acquisition is automatic, and the data displays are generated in real time.

VHF Signal Strength

Signal strength for VHF sensor networks is measured in range normalized power (RNP) and the units are in dBm.

Lightning Location System Performance

There are several factors that characterize the performance of lightning detection systems:

- Classification (cloud, CG) - Location accuracy - Detection efficiency. - False alarms This section deals with location accuracy and detection efficiency. The specific values of these performance characteristics differ depending on which location technique is used, but the characteristics themselves apply to all techniques.

Measurement of Location Accuracy

A 2D confidence ellipse (or ellipsoid in three dimensions) can be used to characterize the accuracy of the calculated stroke positions. The median ellipse circumscribes a region, centered on the computed (optimum) stroke location, within which there is a 50% probability that the stroke occurred. The confidence ellipse can be described in terms of its semi-major axis, its eccentricity (ratio of the semi-major axis to the semi-minor axis), and the orientation of the semi-major axis (in degrees relative to north). Example confidence ellipses are illustrated in Figure 165 on page 295 and Figure 166 on page 295, along with all the parameters that describe them. If a stroke is detected by only two

294 ______M210672EN-D Appendix D ______Introduction To Lightning Detection

direction finders at a great distance from the stroke (see Figure 165), the ellipse is quite eccentric, with its major axis oriented on a line between the two sensors. If a stroke is detected by several sensors at various angles, the ellipse tends to be smaller and more circular (see Figure 166 on page 295).

Stroke Location Semi-minor θ Axis S1

S2 Semi-major Axis: 6.0km Semi-major Semi-minor Axis: 0.8km Axis Eccentricity: 7.5 Angle (θ): 90°

Figure 165 Confidence Ellipse: Unfavorable Sensor Geometry

S2 Semi-major Axis: 1.0km S 1 Semi-minor Axis: 0.5km Eccentricity: 2.0 Angle: 0° S3

Figure 166 Confidence Ellipse: Favorable Sensor Geometry

The confidence ellipse can be calculated for probabilities other than 50% by scaling the semi-major and semi-minor axes appropriately. Table 39 below shows the scaling constant that would be multiplied by the 50% probability ellipse axis lengths to obtain higher-probability axes. Table 39 The Scaling Constant and Probability Relationship Scaling Constant Probability 1 50% 1.82 90% 2.57 99%

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The following equation can be used to calculate the scaling constant for any desired probability level.

2 ⋅ ln() 1 Probability Scaling Constant = ------– – 1.177

In this equation probability is expressed as a fraction rather than as a percent (for example: 0.9 rather than 90%).

It should be noted that not all locations within a confidence ellipse are equally likely. The central point is the most likely, and the probability decreases quickly as the position gets further from the central point.

Data Consistency

The reduced chi-square is computed for all optimized location calculations. The reduced chi-square value is a measure of how well the sensor measurements agree and is given by the following equation: n ()m – m ∗ 2 ∑ ------j ------j - e2 j = 1 j RCS = ------x

Where:

n = Total number of measurements j = Measurement index

mj = Measured value (angle or time) * mj = Calculated value based on optimum location

ej = Theoretical measurement error (standard deviation for angle or time error) x = Degrees of freedom (number of measurements minus the number of estimated parameters)

Good values of chi-square fall in the range of 0.0 to 3.0 while acceptable values are in the 3.0 to 10.0 range. Larger values are the result of poorly calibrated sensors, unusual noise, or miscorrelations in time, and these locations should be regarded as outliers.

Measurement errors can usually be kept to under 1° azimuth (angle errors) and 1.5 µs (time errors).

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Detection Efficiency

Not all lightning discharges are detected and reported. Discharges are not reported if the signal fails to meet various consistency checks or if it falls below the sensor threshold. Locations are not calculated if the discharge reported by multiple sensors cannot be correlated or if they produce inconsistent locations. An entire flash is missed when none of its discharges is detected or located. The ability of a network to detect and report lightning discharges (cloud or cloud-to-ground) is referred to as the network detection efficiency, which is computed as the percentage of actual discharges that are reported by the network. Network detection efficiency can be computed for CG flashes, strokes, and cloud discharges. Network detection efficiency varies from region to region.

Use of Location Quality Indicators

Location quality indicators can be used to understand individual stroke location accuracy, as follows. First, it must be verified that the chi- square value is in the acceptable range (normally 10.0 or less). If this value is larger than 10.0, then the ellipse parameters will underestimate the actual location error. If the chi-square value is acceptable, then the ellipse parameters can be used to evaluate the uncertainty in the location of the stroke. When investigating an incident where there is a question as to whether a particular stroke could have struck a specific object, then orientation and shape of the ellipse can be used to answer this question, as is illustrated in Figure 167 on page 298.

For this application, either the 90% or 99% confidence ellipse is appropriate (depending on your desired level of confidence). The confidence ellipses in Figure 167 are at the 90% probability level, indicating that there is only a 10% chance that the stroke occurred anywhere outside the ellipse. In this figure, the estimated stroke location (centroid) for Stroke #1 is closer to the transmission line. Without the confidence ellipse information, Stroke #1 might be assumed to have struck the line. However, since the location uncertainty is much less for Stroke #1, it is less likely that this event struck the line because its confidence ellipse does not overlap the line. Stroke #2 has a higher probability of having struck the line.

A detailed treatment of the problem of correlating lightning with other events/incidents is a complex subject, and is beyond the scope of this document. As a general statement, the greater the uncertainty in the

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time of the event/incident, the more one must rely on the confidence ellipse information to select between "candidate" lightning events.

Transmission Line 15 km Stroke #1

Stroke #2

Figure 167 Using Confidence Ellipse to Identify Most Likely Stroke

Additionally, the confidence ellipse information is to determine the regional location accuracy. In this case, only the semi-major axis is important, as it is the parameter that reflects the worst-case orientation. It is reasonable to employ the 50% probability value for this use, in order to represent typical (median) location accuracy.

References

Cummins, K.L., Murphy, M.J., Bardo, E.A., Hiscox, W.L., Pyle, R.B., Pifer, A.E. (1998) A Combined TOA/MDF Technology Upgrade of the U.S. National Lightning Detection Network, Journal of Geophysical Research, Vol. 103, No. D8, 9035–9044.

Cummins, K.L., Krider, E.P., Malone, M. D., (1998), The U.S.National Lightning Detection Network and Applications of Cloud-to-Ground Lightning Data by Electric Power Utilities, IEEE Transactionson Electromagnetic Compatibility, Vol. 40, No. 4, November.

Cummins, K. L., and Murphy, M. J., (2000), Overview of Lightning Detection in the VLF, LF, and VHF Frequency range, 2000 Intl. Lightning Detection Conf., Tucson, AZ, Global Atmospherics, Inc.

Diendorfer, G., Hadrian, W., Hofbauer, F., Mair, M., Schulz, W., (2002) Evaluation of Lightning Location Data Employing Measurements of Direct Strikes to a Radio Tower, CIGRE Session No. 39, Paper # 33- 206, Paris.

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Hayenga, C.O. and Warwick, J.W. (1981) Two-dimensional Interferometric Positions of VHF Lightning Sources, Journal of Geophysical Research, (86), (pp. 7451–7462).

Horner, F. (1957) Very-Low-Frequency Propagation and Direction Finding, Proceedings of the IEEE, 101B, 73–80.

Idone, V.P., Saljoughy, A.B., Henderson, R.W., Moore, P.K., Pyle, R.B.(1993) A Reexamination of the Peak Current Calibration of the National Lightning Detection Network, Journal of Geophysical Research, Vol. 98, No. 10, 18,323–18,332.

Krider, E. P., Noggle, R. C., and Uman, M. A. (1976) A gated wideband magnetic direction-finder for lightning return strokes, J. Appl. Meteor., vol. 15, (pp. 301–306).

Krider, E. P., Noggle, R. C., Pifer, A. E., and Vance, D. L.(1980) Lightning direction finding systems for forest fire detection, Bulletin of the American Meteor. Soc., vol. 61, (pp. 980–986).

Lennon, C. and Maier, L. (1991) Lightning mapping system, in Proc. Int. Aerospace and Ground Conf. on Lightning and Static Electricity, Cocoa Beach, FL,. NASA Conf. Pub. 3106, Vol. II, (pp. 89-1–89-10).

Lewis, E.A., Harvey, R.B., Rasmussen, J.E. (1960) Hyperbolic Direction Finding with Sferics of Transatlantic Origin, Journal of Geophysical Research, Vol. 63, No. 7, 1879–1905.

Lewis, E.A. (1964) Geometry and First-Order Error Statistics for Three- and Four-Station Hyperbolic Fixes on a Spherical Earth, Physical Sciences Research Papers, No. 29.

Maier, L., Lennon, C., Britt, T., and Schaefer, S. (1995) Lightning Detection and Ranging (LDAR) system performance analysis, Paper 8.9 in Proc. 6th Conf. on Aviation Weather Systems, Dallas, TX, Amer. Meteorol. Soc.

Malan, D.J. (1963) Physics of Lightning, The English Universities Press, Ltd., London, (176 pp.).

Murphy, M.J. and Cummins, K.L. (1998) 2-D and 3-D cloud discharge detection, 1998 Intl. Lightning Detection Conf., Tucson, AZ, Global Atmospherics, Inc.

Oetzel, G.N., Pierce, E.T. (1969) VHF Techniques for Locating Lightning, Radio Science, 4, 199–201.

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Orville, R.E. (1994) Cloud-to-Ground Lightning Flash Characteristics in the Contiguous United States: 1989-1991, Journal of Geophysical Research, Vol. 4, No. D5, 10,833–10,841.

Pierce, E.T. (1977) Atmospherics and radio noise, in Lightning, vol. 1: Physics of Lightning, R.H. Golde, ed., (pp. 351–384).

Proctor, D.E. (1971) A Hyperbolic System for Obtaining VHF Radio Pictures of Lightning, Journal of Geophysical Research, Vol. 76, (pp. 1478–1489).

Richard, P., Soulage, A., Laroche, P. and Appel, J. (1988), The SAFIR lightning monitoring and warning system: Application to aerospace activities, Proc. Int. Aerospace and Ground Conf. on Lightning and Static Electricity, Oklahoma City, OK: National Interagency Coordination Group, (pp. 383–390).

Richard, P., Soulage, A., and Broutet, F., (1989), The SAFIR lightning warning system, Proc. 1989 Int. Conf. On Lightning and Static Electricity, Bath, England: Ministry of Defence Procurement Executive, (pp. 2B.1.1–2B.1.5).

Rison, W.R., Scott, R., Thomas, R.J., Krehbiel, P.R., Hamlin, T., and Harlin, J. (1999) 3-dimensional lightning and dual-polarization observations of thunderstorms in central New Mexico, 11th Intl. Conf. on Atmos. Electricity, Guntersville, Ala., USA, NASA Conf. Publ. 1999-209261, (pp. 432–435).

Rhodes, C.T., Shao, X.M., Krehbiel, P.R., Thomas, R.J., and Hayenga, C.O. (1994) Observations of Lightning Phenomena Using Radio Interferometry, Journal of Geophysical Research, Vol. 99, (pp. 13,059– 13,082).

Shao, XM., Krehbiel, P.R., Thomas, R.J., and Rison, W. (1995) Radio Interferometric Observations of Cloud-to-ground Lightning Phenomena in Florida, J. Geophys. Res., Vol. 100, (pp. 2749–2783).

Thottappillil, R., and Uman, M.A. (1993) Comparison of lightning return-stroke models, Journal of Geophysical Research, Vol. 98, pp. 22903–22914.

Uman, M. A., McLain, D. K., and Krider, E. P. (1975), The electromagnetic radiation from a finite antenna, Amer. J. Phys., Vol 43, pp. 3–38.

Watson-Watt, R.A., and Herd, J. F. (1926) An instantaneous direct reading radio goniometer, J. Inst. Elect. Engrs., vol. 64, pp. 611-622.

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INDEX

Numerics ASCII output 237 attenuation 226 3D light properties 226 audible cue 169 A authorized data region 43 auto cycle zoom levels 204 ALARM archive 84 automatically save an image 231 Alarms dialog box 29 Alert Condition 29 B Alert status 169 backup 88 Alert 171 bearing 101 Alerts Status Build Video dialog box 256 acknowledging 171 building videos 256 configuring 172 Bulletin 46 configuring Email notification 174 determining status 170 C understanding 169 Cells mode 51 Alerts Status Window 169 center coordinates 183 anti-virus software 10 changing Archive Files 87 map geoset 116 archived files 15, 84 map projections 114 Area Definition dialog box 273 changing map projections 114 Area Map circular intersection changing 98 method 288 features 98 colors and Replay 254 geosets 115 combine Warning Areas 164 grid lines 98 communications 77 labels 110 Central Data 77 layers 103 Central data 77 managing map layers 106 status 79 map layer order 108 Status detail 79 map layer properties 108 understanding 77 navigating 111 condition 169 panning 113 confidence ellipse scale bar 100 calculating 294 understanding 97 Configuration file 90, 94 zoom 111 configuring As 191

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Alert condition 172 map label properties 110 Central connection 78 map layer properties 108 Email notification 80 Map Legend 117 Email notification for Warning Areas 174 Map Scale Bar 100 Connections tab 62 Monitor window 37 Coordinate in DMS 75 multiple Warning Areas 159 coordinates of an event 184 Object Manager 229 Copyright notice 5 Others tab 72 copyrights 5 proportional fonts 54 current cursor position 185 Region Style dialog box 157 Replay dialog box 244 D Save image dialog box 234 data aging 127, 254 Section Width dialog box 216 data files Section width window 220 backing up 89 software version number 10 data types 9 specific discharge type 179 data videos 248 Time-Lapse Histogram 39 date and time of an event 186 VLDS configuration window 240 default Legend colors 197 VLDS information 242 Density mode 50 VLDS Window 239 Desktop icons 14 distance and bearing 101 dialog box distance and bearing to an event 101 Build Video 256 distance between objects 100 Region Style 158 DMS option 75 Replay 243 document conventions 3 Zoom 177 E discharge type 178 Discharges mode 49 Email discrimination values 214 configuring 80 Display modes 9 removing an address 81 Display Properties dialog box 107 testing an address 81 Display tasks 9 Email Notification 80 displaying enabled licensed options 42 Alarms dialog box 29 event date and time 186 Alerts Status window 169 event information 193 Area Definition dialog box 139, 159 F Area Map grid 99 Build Video dialog box 256 File Menu 17 center coordinates 183 font size 54 Chose Projection dialog box 114 Help 13 Connections tab 63 LTS2005 application 53 coordinates of an event 184 G Density tab 66 Discharge Types dialog box 179 general information 1 Display Properties dialog box 107 geoset 115 General Configuration dialog box 57 Geoset dialog box 116 General tab 60 glossary 273 Geoset dialog box 116 gradient colors 195 Identify tab 70 grid lines 98 Inspector window 34 H Layer Control dialog box 105 legal notices 11 Help Menu 23 Light Manager 226

302 ______M210672EN-D ______

I View 19 manuals IC data 210 conventions used 3 IC node breakdown 215 map geoset 115 Identify tab 69, 70 map labels 110 image files 231 map layers 103, 106 Information window 47 labels 110 initiation points 212 order 108 Inspector parameters properties 108 customizing 35 Map Legend Inspector window parameters 269 Cells mode 123 intensity of an event 187 changing colors 125 L color key 132 color keys 132 Lat and Lon boxes 75 contracting 118 Layer Control dialog box 105 defining colors 125 layer properties 108 Density mode 121 legal 11 Discharges mode 119 legal notices 11 displaying 117 Legend expanding 118 Cells mode 123 map projections 114 custom colors 125 Message 46 Density mode 121 modifying 3D object properties 229 Discharges mode 119 Monitor window 37 Legend dialog box 117 most recent event(s) 190 license agreement 6 multiple Warning Areas 159 License file 42 licensed data region 42 N limits navigating the Area Map 111 data 177 Next Font Command 53 warning 177 no password 45 line-graph 41 normalized signal strength Live Replay 250 calculation 291 locating Nowcast 260 archived Alarm files 85 archived Archive files 87 P backup directories 88, 89 panning 113 Configuration files 90 password 44 log files 86 password-protection 43 LP series central analyzer 7 polarity of an event 191 LTS2005 data video printing building 258 Help file 13 LTS2005 font types processing tasks 9 enclosed 53 projection hollow 53 commonly used 261 solid 53 Mercator 262 M Regional Equal-Area 263 US State Plane 267 Main Menu UTM (WGS84) 265 File 17 Help 23 Q Replay 23 querying lightning data 206 Tools 21

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R Time-Period Length 133 Time-period length 132 Replay To 116 Menu items 23 Toolbar 25 Replay colors 254 Tools Menu 21 replay speed 247 total lightning counts 192 replaying a data video 248 trademarks 4 S U safety considerations U.S. NLDN 7 general 3 understanding product specific 4 Alarms dialog box 29 saving images 231 Alerts Status 169 Scale Bar 100 Area Map 97 SCM 7 Configuration files 90 screen saver 10 data aging 127 Section 3D 209 Desktop icons 14 Section width dialog box 216 discharge types 178 selecting 3D data 216 Display modes semi-minor axis location accuracy 294 Cells51 software version number 10 Density50 solid colors 197 Discharges48 specific discharge type 179 General Configuration dialog box 57 splash screen 10 geosets 103 starting LTS2005 15 Information window 47 Status Bar 27 Inspector 34 HotKey Replay Mode 28 License file 42 Real-Time Mode 27 LTS2005 comunications 77 Standard Replay Mode 27 LTS2005 Time (UTC) 52 stopping LTS2005 15 map layers 103 Styles 157 Map Legend 117 supported data types 9 maps, projections and geosets 114 symbol size 54 Monitor window 37 System archives 83 password protection 43 Alarm 84 Status Bar 27 Cells 84 System Messages and Bulletins 46 Central 84 Time-Lapse Histogram 39 Density 84 Time-Period Length 133 specifics 83 Toolbar 25 System Bulletins 46 Warning Areas 135 using T anti-virus software 10 tab Connections tab 62, 63 Connections 62 Context-Sensitive Help 12 General 59 Density tab 65, 66 Identify 69 General tab 59 Others 71 Identify tab 69 Technical Support 12 multiple Configuration files 94 time 52 Others tab 71 Time-Lapse Histogram 39 screen savers 10 time-of-arrival symbol fonts 53 detection method 285–289 Task-Oriented Help 12

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V version number 10 VHF radiation, associated with lightning 283 View Menu 19 viewing data in 3D 216 W Warning Area combining 163 creating 139 circular144, 147 circular area141 concentric150 polygon154 defining style 157 determining properties 166 displaying 159 enable 159 modifying 160 options 137 removing 165 renaming 165 understanding 135 Warning Areas configuring Email notification 174 Warning Areas 135 warning system 7 warranty 6 window Alerts Status 169 X XviD Codex 5 Z zoom displayed data 111 extents 111 zoom level 201 zoom sequence 202

VAISALA ______305 User’s Guide ______

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