Compact, Man Portable, Lightning Warning and Localization System

An integrated electric and magnetic field sensor able to both localize lightning discharge events and detect the change in the quasi-static electric field due to imminent lightning is proposed. In Phase I, we demonstrated how a group of individual sensors operating from a single observation point could determine the distance and bearing of a lightning discharge at almost 200 km, and monitor the associated static electric field changes at 75 km. In Phase II, an integrated sensor will be built that outputs the coordinates of lightning events within a 250 km radius, and provides a warning of imminent lightning strikes within a 50 km radius. The proposed system combines proprietary, state-of-the-art electric and magnetic field sensors that were very recently developed by QUASAR for DARPA ground sensor programs, together with algorithms based on the latest research in atmospheric physics. The final Phase II system will include GPS and orientation sensors and be capable of being interfaced to any computer via an Ethernet connection.