The 3-Dimensional Lightning Mapping Array at White Sands Missile Range

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The 3-Dimensional Lightning Mapping Array at
White Sands Missile Range

• Scott A. Startz
• Meteorology Branch Forecast Section
• White Sands Missile Range
• [phone]/678-2462
• With assistance from
• Bill Rison, New Mexico Institute of Mining
  Technology
• Graydon Aulich, New Mexico Institute of Mining
  Technology
• Edward E. Ellison, White Sands Missile Range
  Meteorology Branch
• Terry Huck, White Sands Missile Range Meteorology
  Branch

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White Sands Missile Range Location
Located in the Tularosa Basin of south-central
New Mexico.
Headquarters area of Main Post is 20 miles east
of Las Cruces, NM and 45 miles north of El Paso,
TX.
Range boundaries extend 100 miles north to south
and 40 miles east to west.
With almost 3,200 square miles of area, the range
is the largest military installation in the
country
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White Sands Missile Range Mission Statement
Provides customers with high quality services
for experimentation, test, research, assessment,
development, and training in support of the
Nation at war1
Projects include customers with the Army, Navy,
Air Force, Department Of Defense, and other
foreign countries .
1White Sands Missile Range website
Mission/Vision http//www.wsmr.army.mil/wsmr.asp?
pgypage11
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Terrain at White Sands Missile Range
Arid, desert climate
Mountains surround the range
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Weather at White Sands Missile Range
An occasional tornado
- From 2
May 2007
Dust Devils
Snow (especially over the higher elevations)
From December 1987 El Paso National
Weather Service
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Weather at White Sands Missile Range
SAMS OBSERVATIONS FROM SAN AUGUSTIN PASS
------------------------------ 04 APRIL 09
--------------------------
/----TEMP---\ /-----PRESSURES-----\
/----WINDS---\ TIME
DEW Station ALT SEA
SOL BAT JUL MST TMP PNT RH Press
LVL DIR SPD PK RAD PRC VLT DAY
hhmm f f mb mb
deg kts kts ly in vlts 094 1145
53 24 32 811.9 29.81 1001.3 280 42.6
53.6 1.0 0.00 13.1 094 1200 53 23 31
812.0 29.82 1001.4 289 44.0 58.0 1.0 0.00
13.1 094 1215 54 23 29 811.5 29.80
1000.8 285 47.4 62.7 1.1 0.00 13.1 094
1230 53 22 29 810.9 29.78 1000.2 282
49.0 62.7 1.0 0.00 13.1 094 1245 55 22
27 810.8 29.78 0999.9 280 48.3 61.7 1.1
0.00 13.1 094 1300 55 22 26 810.9 29.78
0999.9 284 47.6 60.1 1.1 0.00 13.1 094
1315 55 21 25 810.9 29.78 1000.0 290
49.4 62.4 1.0 0.00 13.1 094 1330 56 20
24 810.4 29.76 0999.3 281 51.7 69.2 1.2
0.00 13.1 094 1345 56 19 23 810.7 29.77
0999.7 288 51.4 64.4 1.1 0.00 13.1 094
1400 57 20 23 810.5 29.77 0999.6 280
49.5 65.4 1.1 0.00 13.1 094 1415 58 19
21 810.5 29.77 0999.4 284 49.1 64.4 1.1
0.00 13.1 094 1430 57 18 21 810.2 29.76
0999.2 288 52.6 66.3 1.0 0.00 13.1 094
1445 58 17 19 810.0 29.75 0998.8 287
53.7 67.1 1.0 0.00 13.1 094 1500 58 17
19 810.3 29.76 0999.2 289 51.2 65.0 0.9
0.00 13.1 094 1515 58 15 18 810.1 29.75
0999.0 290 53.1 67.6 0.9 0.00 13.1 094
1530 58 15 18 809.5 29.73 0998.4 284
54.2 67.8 0.8 0.00 13.1 094 1545 59 13
16 810.0 29.75 0999.0 288 52.9 67.6 0.7
0.00 13.1 094 1600 58 13 16 810.4 29.76
0999.6 289 51.7 65.0 0.6 0.00 13.1 094
1615 58 14 17 810.7 29.77 1000.0 292
49.8 65.6 0.6 0.00 13.1 094 1630 58 15
18 810.4 29.76 0999.6 283 51.2 64.8 0.5
0.00 13.1 094 1645 58 16 18 811.1 29.79
1000.5 287 47.4 56.8 0.5 0.00 13.1 094
1700 58 16 19 811.5 29.80 1001.0 290
46.2 57.4 0.4 0.00 13.1 094 1715 57 17
20 811.7 29.81 1001.4 287 44.5 56.8 0.3
0.00 13.2 094 1730 57 17 21 811.6 29.81
1001.5 289 46.9 61.4 0.1 0.00 13.2
Area mountains (Sacramento, San Andreas, Organ
Oscuras) provide the lift to help create two of
the most common and dangerous types of weather
phenomena over southern New Mexico 1) Wind
Storms 2) Thunderstorms
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Thunderstorms overSouthern New Mexico
Over El Paso El Paso Ntl Weather Service
Over Sacramento Mountains east of White Sands
Missile Range
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White Sands Missile Range Meteorology Range
Provides projects with meteorological data and
forecasts from 1) A network of observational
towers (SAMS) 2) Upper-air rawinsonde flights 3)
924 Radar Wind profilers 4) Wind-finding
radars 5) Tethersondes 6) Rocket Impact
Prediction (SMART-IP software) 7) Specialized
Mission-Specific Weather Forecasts
(Upper-level surface) 8) Weather watches and
warnings to alert personnel of possible
safety issues (such as when working with or
transporting explosives, per WSMR Safety
Regulation 385-18, 13-6, item m
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The 3-Dimensional Lightning Mapping Array
Established in conjunction with the
Langmuir Laboratory for Atmospheric Research at
the New Mexico Institute of Mining Technology
Harry
ORC
Twelve (12) pods located around WSMR
Pole 616
Three-dimensional coverage in the southern and
central range (with sites less than 15 miles
apart), and two-dimensional coverage in the
northern range (pods no more than 30 miles apart.
Salt Creek
Cowan
Shuttle
Lost Creek
Chile
Freq
At least six (6) remote sites have to detect a
RF radiation event with a well-defined peak in
order for the system to recognize the occurrence
as a lightning discharge
Apache
Glover
SMR
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The 3-Dimensional Lightning Mapping Array Pod

• Each LMA site is composed of
• a computer circuit board
• a hard drive/compact flash card
• the 3-D LMA card
• a GPS antenna
• a media converter
• the battery
• the UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply)

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Contents of the Lightning Mapping Array Pod
Computer
Hard Drive
3-D LMA Card
Media Converter
GPS Antenna
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TSN Network at White Sands Missile Range
In order to transfer the data from each
individual LMA site to the central computer in
the Meteorology Office on Main Post, the
lightning mapping array utilizes WSMRs
fiber-optic network.
TSN Shelter
Each LMA computer box has a direct link with an
ethernet hub to WSMRs Test Support Network
(TSN), which extends across the range in an
isolated network.
LMA Box
LMA Site at Lost Creek
FSTE Box
Every pod is connected to the network either
directly into a TSN shelter or indirectly through
a FSTE (Fiber Site Termination Equipment) box,
which then goes to a TSN shelter.
LMA Site at Glover
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3-D LMA Data-File Types
Raw Data 10,000 pts/second. Binary data which
is distinct for each location. Written to each
sites computer drive. Data used mainly for
research and education.
Raw Decimated Data 2,500 pts/second. Also in a
binary format. Data files not as large. Used in
real-time (operationally).
Processed Decimated Data Also 2,500 pts/second.
In an ASCII flat-file format, archived to the
database. The primary format for operational and
climatological use. This data is utilized to make
graphics for the system.
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3-D LMA Images
Files produced in an hourly output, 10-minute
increments, and every minute.
Image File Point Data Records where LMA
detects lightning strikes and graphs them as
points or individual sources over a plot of
WSMR.
Image File Density Data Plot which attempts
to graphically display the actual shape and
coverage area of a lightning strike (Flash
Extent Density) or strike per unit area
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Comparison of 3-D LMA With 4DWX Autonowcaster
Thunderstorm Event from 10 July 2006
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Problems Encountered With The 3-D LMA
Its not a turn-key system

1. Initial delays at early stages were encountered
   due to complexity of system
2. Communications issues with the WSMR
   TSN Fiber-Optic Network
3. Computer hardware issues (bad hard drives,
   UPS systems and compact flash
   cards)
4. Computer software issues (programming,
   system time, staff proficiency)
5. Obsolescence/replacement of parts
6. Electricity issues at various locations
7. System capabilities can show unwanted,
   excessive data

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3-D LMA Problem Displaying Aircraft Tracks
The mapping system can locate aerial vehicles
flying through cirrus clouds above the array.
This is caused by ice-particle impact against the
aircraft which can become charged and give off a
continuous series of sparks (which can then be
seen by the LMA) --- Three-Dimensional
Lightning Mapping Observations during STEPS
Krehbiel, Rison, et. al 2000
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Future Plans For The WSMR 3-D LMA
-- Actively cooperate with other organizations
to develop an algorithm to filter aircraft
tracks off of the graphical image files which the
LMA displays. -- Expand the array to get
better coverage area by adding two more sites
in northern WSMR. -- Streamline the LMA system
and components for easier maintenance and
training. -- Incorporate array into WSMRs
Modular Real-Time Enterprise system, which
will provide the data to projects instantaneously
during missions at Range Control Center. --
Coordinate with El Paso and Albuquerque National
Weather Service offices to share the LMA data
for real-time decision-making during severe
weather events.
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Utilizing the WSMR 3-D LMA for Research
Supercell / Tornadic Event of 13 Sept 06 (near
Las Cruces, NM)
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The End

• Questions/Comments ?