LAUSR

AbstractThis study evaluates the performance of the operational and reprocessed Global Lightning Dataset 360 (GLD360) data relative to the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) Lightning Imaging Sensor (LIS) during 2012–14. The analysis compares ground- and space-based lightning observations to better characterize the pre- and postupgrade GLD360. The reprocessed, postupgrade data increase the fraction of LIS flashes detected by the GLD360 [i.e., relative detection efficiency (DE)]. The relative DE improves during each year in every region, and year-over-year improvement appears in both datasets. The reprocessed relative DE exceeds 40% throughout large portions of the study domain with relative maxima over the western Atlantic, eastern Pacific, and the Gulf of Mexico. The upgrade results in shorter distances between matched LIS and GLD360 locations, indicating improved location accuracy. On average, the matched LIS flashes last longer (18.6 ms) and are larger (379.3 km2) than the unmatched LIS flashes...