Waveform analysis of cloud-to-ground flashes as detected by fast e-field antennas and lightning location systems: On the way to precisely estimate the stroke peak current

BrasilDAT network is an EarthNetworks Total Lightning System (ENTLS) that detects both intra-cloud and cloud-to-ground discharges. Multiple time-of-arrival (TOA) sensors send to central processor the whole waveform of every event detected. The EarthNetworks Lightning Sensor (ENLS) operates in a wide range (from 1Hz to 12MHz) and was designed to reduce system noise and to broaden the frequency range. At present, BrasilDAT is composed of 56 sensors covering 10 States of Brazil: RS, SC, PR, SP, RJ, ES, MG, MS, GO, and BA. We expect to conclude the full network deployment by the end of 2013 reaching up to 75 sensors covering almost all Brazilian regions (except the Amazon basin). This work intends to compare the fast e-field (E-fast) waveforms recorded during CHUVA project campaign for CG strokes that struck at a known location with the waveform recorded by several sensors at different distances from the flash. We know that waveform shapes recorded by different sensors at different distances from the flash have not just different amplitudes, but also different shapes. We know that even waveform shapes recorded by different sensors at the same distance from a flash have different shapes. To better understand these differences, we will predict electric fields at one location from measurements at many other locations and compare our predictions to measurements. We expect this to improve our propagation model and our site calibrations, and we expect it to provide a measurement of one part of the BrasilDAT peak current error.