National c Aeronautics and Space Administration Photograph by Richard Orville Proceedings: Workshop on the Need for Lightning July 1979 Observations from Space 6. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION CODE I 7. AUTHOR(SJ Edited by Larry S. Christensen. * Walter Frost .* ORGANiZATtoN REPC)RT and William W.- Vaunhan 9. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME AND ADDRESS 10. WORK UNIT NO. George C. Marshall Space Flight Center 1 1. CONTRACT OR GRANT NO. National Aeronautics and Space Administration Washington, D. C. 20546 15. SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES Prepared by Space Sciences Laboratory, Science and Engineering *The University of Tennessee Space Institute, Tullahoma, Tennessee 16. ABSTRACT This report presents the results of the Workshop on the Need for Lightning Observations from Space held February 13-15, 1979, at The University of Tennessee Space Institute, Tullahoma, Tennessee. The interest and active involvement by the engineering, operational, and scientific participants in the workshop demonstrated that lightning observations from space is a goal well worth pursuing. The unique contributions, measurement requirements, and supportive research investigations were defined for a number of important applications. Lightning has a significant role in atmospheric processes and needs to be systematically investigated. Satellite instru- mentation specifically designed for indicating the characteristics of lightning will be of value in severe storms research, in engineering and operational problem areas, and in providing new information on atmospheric electricity and its role in meteorological processes. This report supersedes NASA CP-2083, Workshop on the Need for Lightning Observations from Space--Preliminary Report, and should be used in place of it. 17 KEY WORDS 18, DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT Lightning Unclassified4nlimited Meteorology Atmospheric Physics /7 19 SECURITY CLASSIF. (Of thb report) 20 SECURITY CLASSIF. (of thio pgs) 21 NO. OF PAGES 22 PRICE Unclassified Unclassified lSFC - Form 3 29 2 (Rev, December 19 71) lor deby Wationd Technic& InPomaaol~Sewlee. SprMfield, VWinia 22 16 1 d ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The accomplishments of the workshop are due to the dedicated efforts of many people in the scientific, engineering, and operations applications areas. In particular, the presenters of overview papers and the chairmen of the committees deserve much credit for the success ofthe workshop. The encouragement of Dr. James C. Dodge, Manager, Severe Storms and Local Weather Research Program, NASA Headquarters, was a major factor in the development of the workshop. Thanks also go to The University of Tennessee Space Institute which, under the leadership of Dr. Walter Frost, expertly managed the logistics i of the workshop with the dedicated help of Dr. Larry S. Christensen and Ms. Becky Durocher. William W. Vaughan Workshop Chairman WORKSHOP ON THE NEED FOR LIGHTNING OBSERVATIONS FROM SPACE TABLE OF CONTENTS I. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY (INCLUDING MATRIX OF NEEDS, REQUIREMENTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS) e 1 11. INTRODUCTION ...................... *.e13 111. OVERVIEW PRESENTATIONS .................... 22 LIGHTNING PROPERTIES AND ASSOCIATED EMISSIONS MarxBrook ........................ 25 A REVIEW OF SATELLITE LIGHTNING EXPERIMENTS Bobby N. Turman ...................... 61 STATE OF TECHNOLOGY IN OPTICAL SYSTEMS Bruce C. Edgar ....................... 81 THE STATE OF TECHNOLOGY IN ELECTROMAGNETIC (RF) SENSORS (FOR LIGHTNING DETECTION) Thomas H. Shumpert and Martial A. Honnell . 88 THE GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION OF LIGHTNING --FORESTRY AND RANGE REQUIREMENTS AND INTERESTS Dale L. Vance ...................... .110 THE COMMERCIAL REQUIREMENTS AND INTERESTS OF THE POWER INDUSTRY Robert A. Freeh ..................... .I15 THE COMMUNICATIONS INDUSTRY'S REQUIREMENTS AND INTERESTS Oley Wanaselja ..................... -116 LIGHTNING HAZARDS OVERV I EW--AV IATION REQU IREMENTS AND INTERESTS Philip B. Corn ..................... ,126 THE ATMOSPHERIC ELECTRIC GLOBAL CIRCUIT Heinz W. Kasemir ....................,136 NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION SUPPORT OF ATMOSPHERIC ELECTRICITY RESEARCH H. Frank Eden ...................... -148 iii NAVY SUPPORTED RESEARCH IN ATMOSPHERIC ELECTRICITY . .150 James Hughes LIGHTNING AS AN INDICATION OF STORM SEVERITY James C. Dodge . e . , . ,153 IV. BANQUET PRESENTATION . ,157 PLATFORMS IN SPACE--EVOLUTIONARY TRENDS John M. Butler, Jr. a . -159 V. DINNER PRESENTATION . ,183 A SUMMARY OF THE RESTON WORKSHOP ON THE ROLE OF ELECTRODYNAMICS OF THE MIDDLE ATMOSPHERE ON SOLAR TERRESTRIAL COUPLING ArthurA. Few. .185 VI. COMMITTEE REPORTS . e . -194 ELECTROMAGNETIC TECHNIQUES COMMITTEE Lothar H. Ruhnke . a . ,197 OPTICAL TECHNIQUES COMMITTEE Richard E. Orville . -207 OPERATIONAL APPLICATIONS COMMITTEE Rodney B. Bent . -214 ENGINEERING APPLICATIONS COMMITTEE Edwin R. Whitehead . .221 ATMOSPHERIC ELECTRICITY AND METEOROLOGY COMMITTEE H. Frank Eden . .228 COMMENTS BY COMMITTEE ADVISORS: Comments by John M. Butler, Jr. .235 Comments by Frank H. Emens . .236 VII. CONCLUDING REMARKS . , . .239 APPENDIX--ROSTER OF WORKSHOP ATTENDEES AND PARTICIPANTS -243 iv SECTION I -- EXECUTIVE SUMMARY THE UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE SPACE INSTITUTE EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The interest and active involvement by the engineer- ing, operational, and scientific participants in the workshop demonstrated that lightning observations from space is a goal well worth pursuing. The unique contributions, measure- ment requirements, and supportive research investigations were defined for a number of important appl ications. Lightning has a significant role in atmospheric processes and needs to be systematically investigated. Satellite instrumentation speci f ical1 y designed for indicating the characteristics of lightning will be of value in severe storms research, in engineering and operational problem areas, and in providing new information on atmospheric electricity and its role in meteorological processes. INTRODUCTORY REMARKS A Workshop on the Need for Lightning Observations from Space was held February 13-15, 1979, at The University of Tennessee Space Institute, Tullahoma, Tennessee. This workshop was the result of an earlier ex- ploratory meeting held April 10-11, 1978, and reported in NASA CP-2056, "Exploratory Meeting on Atmospheric Electricity and Severe Storms," July 1978. The application of space technology to the solution of the principal scientific and applications problems in atmospheric electricity was addressed. The participants at the workshop stressed that space technology can be applied fruitfully to the study of lightning phenomena. Direct lightning observations from satellites will be helpful in develop- ing a better understanding of lightning and its relationship to severe storms plus a variety of important engineering and operational applica- tions. Several research areas are very well suited for experimentation using satellites; namely, the atmospheric electric global circuit and generator concept; the interrelationships between electricity, dynamics and microphysics in atmospheric processes; and the electrical activity associated with thunderstorm development, growth, and intensity. For severe storms application, priority should be given to the development of a lightning survey instrument system to provide a synoptic observational capability from geosynchronous orbit. However, efforts should also be made to exploit the space technology opportunities associated with cur- rently approved flight instruments and orbiting platforms. Techniques for measuring 1 ightning activitity from space involve detecting electromagnetic radiation that is produced by the lightning discharge. This radiation ranges from radio frequencies to light in the 3 visible on into the ultraviolet portion of the spectrum. A variety of options are therefore available in the design of the apparatus. The use of detectors in the short wave region appears attractive in view of the much smaller apparatus that is required to give sufficient directional information to identify electrically active clouds. The use of longer wavelengths will probably afford greater sensitivity in the detection of lightning during daylight hours. A certain amount of sensor development research remains to be conducted relative to atmospheric electricity measurement requirements in order to establish the optimum components and technology for application to space-based instruments. Since there is ample evidence of potentially significant contribu- tions to be derived from space-based lightning observations, the NASA Severe Storms and Local Weather Research Program intends to sponsor selected research and experimental investigations and a space fl ight sensor study that will define the needed satellite system. All user requirements cannot be satisfied simultaneously; however, it appears feasible at this time that a lightning detection system can be developed which will satisfy many user requirements. MATRIX OF NEEDS, REQUIREMENTS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS A brief review of the scientific information needs and requirements of various government agencies and other organizations (i.e. , electric and telephone utilities, railroads, petroleum, etc.) concerned with the effects of lightning and a brief look at present sensor capabilities are presented in this summary. The significant points and aspects delineated by each committee are incorporated into each matrix. The principal points of the workshop are summarized in the following tab1 es under these topics: A. BAS IC SCIENTIFIC NEEDS B. OPERATIONAL AND ENGINEERING APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS C. COMMENTS ON MEASUREMENT