This research will utilize sensitive detection and precise positioning of intracloud lightning along with signal processing algorithms to provide improved information on aviation weather hazards arising from thunderstorms. These include: advanced warning of developing thunderclouds, the location of all thunderclouds (not just those making lightning to ground), storm intensity, prediction of lightning to ground, and possibly prediction of microbursts. Lightning direction finders (LDFs) on and near airports as well as at remote locations (for wider coverage) would be utilized. A central computer would determine the occurrence and location of lightning and storm intensity for transmission to displays on the ground via low-rate landlines and on aircraft via Mode S transponder data link. The LDFs would also be on aircraft with information sent to the central computer via Mode S downlink. Combinations of cross-bearings from aircraft and/or ground sensors could be used. Technical topic requirements are met by utilizing existing low-cost digital data link systems to provide weather information to the cockpit of general aviation aircraft where it would be presented on a flat panel display. Also, the lightning information would be added to the parameters broadcast to aircraft on automated airport weather reporting systems (AWOS/ASOS). The potential commercial application would be an innovative avionics package for General Aviation and all other aircraft providing new improved information on thunderstorms and their associated hazards in the cockpit. Potential users are the 200,000 aircraft in the U.S. and perhaps another 100,000 in other countries. In addition, ground sensors, central computers, user display stations and software are needed to use the lightning data for: thunderstorm prediction, storm intensity, microburst prediction, and improved radar products. This equipment would have a market with the U.S. government, state governments, foreign governments, airport authorities and private airports.
