Compact, Man Portable, Lightning Warning and Localization System

We propose to apply a new and significant advance in compact electromagnetic sensing instrumentation to provide warning of imminent lightning strike, and localization of lightning discharges, with a single compact man-portable system suitable for tacticalsituations. In an initial test with the new sensors, charge redistribution effects associated with lightning strikes were clearly visible at 50 km, suggesting a detection range for prediction of an imminent lightning strike hazard of a comparable distance.Furthermore, standard results and calculations show that it should be possible to localize a lightning strike using a single sensor unit comprised of current technology at ranges well over 100 km. In Phase I we will collect data on approximately 100lightning strikes in order to evaluate the system capabilities under practical outdoor conditions. Using these results, we will consider the benefits of adding information from other sensors, and a design for a Phase II prototype system will be drawn up.The proposed system offers truly new capabilities in lightning detection in a package that is already suitable for man portability in a tactical situation. Other government applications include all cases in which lightning monitoring and lightning hazardwarnings are needed. Comparable commercial opportunities exist in general weather monitoring, and for specific cases in which a group of people or sensitive equipment is at risk if a lightning strike occurs. Secondary markets exist in researchinstrumentation for studying lightning and atmospheric physics.