LMX data will allow forecasters to detect electrically active storms, determine the extent of the lightning threat, identify strengthening and weakening storms, monitor storm evolution, and supplement radar data where coverage is poor. Characterizing lightning activity in storms allows forecasters to identify intensifying storms before they produce damaging winds, hail or tornadoes. Rapid increases in total lightning activity often precede severe and tornadic thunderstorms. Severe storms and associated hazards have cost the United States more than 228 billion dollars in the last 20 years. During ground radar outages LMX, like GLM, will also provide crucial coverage acting as a substitute for any heavily damaged radar during disasters like hurricanes. LMX observations will continue the capabilities GLM offers by supporting persistent severe weather observations of the Western Hemisphere and providing essential forecast information for public safety and efficient economic activity across multiple sectors. Benefits of a Geostationary Lightning Mapper One key difference would be the planned use of more modern CMOS (Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor) imaging sensors rather than the CCD (Charge Coupled Device) sensors used on GLM. Additional improvements would be realized through advancements in the technology being used to design and eventually build the LMX. These potential LMX improvements are motivated by current GLM users, and include finer spatial and temporal resolution, and an expanded field of view further north to include Alaska. Improvements Over Current CapabilitiesĪlthough the core capabilities would be similar for the GLM and LMX, several performance improvements are under consideration. Continuing GLM observations with LMX will contribute to long-term records to track decadal changes in lightning activity. Lightning is an essential climate variable needed to understand and predict changes in climate. The data updates faster than local radar and also fills in radar coverage gaps. Geostationary lightning data is available where other sources are more limited, especially over oceans and in mountainous and rural areas. The GLM also improves lightning hazard detection, hurricane intensity prediction, wildfire detection and response, precipitation estimation, and aviation hazard mitigation. Lightning mapping from geostationary orbit improves severe storm analysis and increases lead time to detect tornado formation. LMX will continue critical observations provided by the GOES-R Series Geostationary Lightning Mapper (GLM) and potentially improve its resolution. The GeoXO Lightning Mapper (LMX) will be a single-channel, near-infrared optical detector used to detect, locate, and measure the intensity, duration, and extent of lightning flashes. NOAA plans to include a lightning mapper as part of the GeoXO system.
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