Data Access

[cutty]

Thanks Tobi,

They are looking at the commercial provider as well but, apart from being very expensive, I believe their error ellipses on the strikes are quite large (>5 km).

Out of interest, what is the usual spatial accuracy for the Blitztortung network given 2 stations 50 km apart (yes, I know it's a 'how long is a piece of string' question, but just a ballpark figure)

Cheers

David

First, 2 stations 50km apart won't detect a strike.  It takes a minimum of 4 stations, and in most areas, up to 17 stations may be used, with the best signals used. The issue any system has, commercial or Blitzortung, with 'deviation' or accuracy, is tha fact that strokes can be many miles long, and it's very difficult to detect exactly an originating, or an ending point.  Many times Blitzortung, if conditions are right, will nail strikes <2 or 3km, but 5km isn't bad in most respects ... Incidentally, stations within 50km may be ignored completely in the stroke computations, because of the extreme energy, and many, many lower energy sferics in a cell.  In fact, it's preferable that, under those type of conditions, that those stations stop transmitting, ....  and there's software settings that affect that.