Blitzortung.org
Blitzortung.org is an interest group of private individuals that has been active since 2005 and operates a global network of VLF receivers. These receivers are used to determine the location of lightning strikes based on time- of- flight measurements of the received signals . Citizen scientists , partly supported by professional scientists , operate 1797 active stations in 83 countries and work exclusively on a non-commercial basis. The only consideration that the participants receive is free access to the raw data of all stations. The data are processed by various websites using geospatial methods and saved inInternet made available as a map display.
aims
The aim of Blitzortung.org is global lightning location with many inexpensive receiving stations. According to the website, such a station costs a maximum of 300 euros to build yourself.
According to its own account, the interest group is aimed “primarily at private individuals with an interest in meteorology and expertise in the field of electrical and computer technology.” There is no formal organization behind it, there are no contracts and no fees or contributions are charged. The work is only for personal edification and is a pure hobby.
Structure of the measuring stations
The measuring stations exist in different stages of expansion and development (see table below). A jointly developed receiver electronics serve as the basis for setting up your own station. The system is modular and can be equipped according to individual needs and possibilities. There is a choice between a rod antenna that detects the electric field and / or a magnetic antenna . which covers the H-field . The electrical antenna does not allow any directional information , the magnetic antenna consists of two or three orthogonal coils or ferrite rod antennas that allow information about the orientation of the magnetic field. The stations can also be equipped with digital filters for better interference suppression.
| date | designation | version | description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | System Green | PCB 6.6 | RS-232 interface |
| 2012 | System Green | PCB 6.8usb | USB interface |
| 2013 | System Red | PCB | 32-bit ARM Cortex-M4F, stand-alone operation, GPS integrated |
| 2016 | System Blue | PCB 19.4 | Similar to System Red, but SMD technology |
Location process
The stations continuously digitize the low frequency signals from the antennas in the range from 3,000 to 30,000 Hz with a sampling rate of over 500 kHz. In this frequency range, lightning flashes generate significant signal excursions that are perceived as atmospheric disturbances in radio communications . At the same time, a GPS signal is received and evaluated. This is used to determine the exact location of the receiving station and at the same time provides a high-precision time base.
If a lightning signal is detected, it is sent to a central server for evaluation. If at least three lightning signals from different stations arrive at the server within a short time window, the server can determine the distance to the respective receiver from the arrival times of the signals. Figuratively speaking, the server draws a circle around each receiver with a radius that can be calculated from the transit time of the signals around each station. The point of impact is where all the circles overlap. This procedure is called multilateration in surveying technology . Usually more than three receivers are involved, which improves accuracy.
Due to the large range of the signals, which arise in a few kilometers - with so-called sprites at a height of up to 100 kilometers - a large coverage can be achieved with a relatively thin network of stations. The closer the stations are to the point of impact and the more stations pick up the signal, the more accurate the localization.
Reception in the media
The findings, data and maps from Blitzortung.org repeatedly attract attention in German and international media. In March 2015 the program “alle wetter!” Reported on the Hessischer Rundfunk about the network and the background. The British technology journalist Kate Russell reported an Android - app , the data from Blitzortung.org on mobile devices represents. In a BBC News report on August 8, 2016, a map from Blitzortung.org was used as a source in connection with the frequent storms at that time. Blitzortung.org was named as the source of lightning strike data in a UK Daily Express report dated August 14, 2020. The network's data helped locate the origins of the Gospers Mountain bushfire and mega-blazes in New South Wales , Australia in 2020 .
Other lightning detection networks
There are several other networks for lightning location, most of which are operated commercially:
- ALDIS Austrian Lightning Detection & Information System
- BLIDS from Siemens AG
- EUCLID European Cooperation for Lightning Detection
- NALDN North American Lightning Detection Network
- Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (Satellite Based)
Web links
- Blitzortung.org project website
- Dynamic map with live visualization (worldwide) map.blitzortung.org
Individual evidence
- ↑ First mention of the network in wetter-board.de. Retrieved August 19, 2020 .
- ^ Egon Wanke: A low cost Time of Arrival Lightning Location Network . Ed .: Blitzortung.org. Düsseldorf December 25, 2010, p. 39–41 ( blitzortung.org [PDF] monograph).
- ↑ A. Shvets, T. Serdiuk, A. Krivonos, M. Hayakawa: Automatic Method for Monitoring the Lower Ionosphere and Lightning Location by Tweek-Atmospherics . Ed .: IEEE. 2018, p. 789–794 , doi : 10.1109 / EMCEurope.2018.8485180 (Original title: International Symposium on Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC EUROPE) . Amsterdam.).
- ↑ List of active stations. In: Blitzortung.org. Accessed August 21, 2020 .
- ↑ Current lightning maps on Blitzortung.org. Blitzortung.org, accessed August 16, 2020 .
- ↑ Current lightning maps at lightningmaps.org. Blitzortung.org, accessed August 16, 2020 .
- ↑ a b self-presentation on Blitzortung.org. Retrieved August 20, 2020 .
- ^ News page from Blitzortung.org. Retrieved August 19, 2020 .
- ↑ Viviane Wolff: Integration of lightning data from Blitzortung.org for display in OSM . In: J. Strobl, T. Blaschke, G. Griesebner (Eds.): Applied Geoinformatics 2012 . Herbert Wichmann Verlag, VDE VERLAG GMBH, Berlin / Offenbach, ISBN 978-3-87907-520-1 , p. 150–155 ( PDF [accessed August 19, 2020]).
- ^ LV Sorokin: The First Sprite Observation from Moscow in the Direction of Tver Region Associated with Repetitive Lightning Discharge. In: A. Chilingarian (Ed.): Proceedings of International Symposium TEPA 2016: Thunderstorms and Elementary Particle Acceleration . Yerevan Physics Institute, Armenia., 2017, p. 158 ( iaea.org [accessed August 17, 2020] Original title: - . 2016.).
- ↑ Hessischer Rundfunk: all wetter! (No longer available online.) In: https://www.hr-fernsehen.de/sendung-az/alle-wetter/index.html . March 27, 2015, formerly in the original ; accessed on March 27, 2015 . ( Page no longer available , search in web archives )
- ↑ Lightning monitor location. Kate Russell, October 30, 2014, accessed August 20, 2020 .
- ↑ Europe floods: Storms and heavy rain batter continent. In: BBC News. June 8, 2016, Retrieved August 20, 2020 (Lightningmaps.com lightning map on BBC News).
- ↑ Georgina Laud: Lightning strike radar: Where is lightning hitting right NOW? Live maps. LIGHTNING STORMS are forecast to hit across the UK, with Met Office yellow and amber warnings in place - but where is lightning hitting right NOW? Here are the latest live maps. In: express.co.uk . August 14, 2020, accessed on August 20, 2020 .
- ↑ How the ABC located the tree which started the Gospers Mountain bushfire and the Sydney 'mega-blaze'. Retrieved August 20, 2020 .
- ↑ G. Diendorfer, W. Schulz: ALDIS Austrian Lightning Detection and Information System 1992-2008 . In: Electrical engineering & information technology (e & i) . 125 year, no. 5 , 2008, p. 209 , col. 1 , doi : 10.1007 / s00502-008-0530-3 ( abstract, link PDF ).