Wideband Magnetic Direction Finder Networks for Locating Cloud-to-Ground Lightning,

Extensive networks of lightning direction finding stations are now operating in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Norway, Sweden, South Africa, Australia, Japan, and the Peoples Republic of China. These systems are being used to determine the location, movement, and intensity of thunderstorms to facilitate the early detection of lightning-caused fires to determine whether electric power outages are lightning-caused to warn of impending lightning hazards and for a number of other applications and basic research. Here, we describe the principles of operation of these lightning locating systems, system capabilities, typical system configurations, and system performance factors. Author