Variations of the network performance indicate the limitations of the lightning data provided by lightning location networks. One of the most important is the detection efficiency (DE), given as the ratio of the number of detected events by the events that actually occur. And of course variations of the network DE affect the analyses (mainly spatial) using the resulting lightning data. On this way, the most recent version (fourth generation) of the relative detection efficiency model (RDEM) for the Brazilian Lightning Detection Network (BrasilDAT) is presented: the RDEM4. Some improvements on the previous version (Naccarato and Pinto. 2008) are made: (1) more consistent filtering of essential solutions and sensors, (2) relative detection efficiency distributions for each individual sensor assessed as a function of distance, peak current and azimuth, (3) network detection efficiency estimation based on the daily status reports, which provides a ultimate accuracy on the DE computation. The results show considerable enhancements compared to from the previous version (RDEM3). The correction of the number of CG lightning based on the peak current distributions shown also a considerable effect on the final CG lightning density maps increasing the CG lightning density values over the entire network coverage with a significant improvement over areas close to the network borders.
Redes Sociais