[IDV #XQY-387958]: Displaying lightning data from Vaisala

Jerry, 

I neglected to CC support-idv which I am doing now.

-The IDV Support Team

> Jerry,
> 
> The IDV can display NLDN data. Open your .ingest NLDN file as a file data 
> source (Data --> Choose Data --> From the file system). The data source 
> should be "netCDF/GEMPAK Point Data files" data source type.
> 
> The IDV offers configurability options for displaying various fields from the 
> lightning data. Please see the Layout model, under the Display Control, after 
> you have read in the lightning data into the IDV.
> 
> Let us know if you have any additional questions.
> 
> - The IDV Support Team
> 
> > Full Name: Jerry Blechman
> > Email Address: address@hidden
> > Organization: SUNY-Oneonta
> > Package Version: 2.9u3
> > Operating System: Windows XP and RedHat Linux
> > Hardware:
> > Description of problem: I would like to display Vaisala's data from the 
> > NLDN on the same map as NCDC radar images.  Ron Holle asked what format he 
> > should use to send the data.  Can you advise what is the best format and 
> > how can I put the lightning strokes over the radar displays (either 
> > reflectivity or radial velocity)?
> >
> > Here's the thread of e-mails between me and Vaisala:
> >
> > Ron,
> >
> > Thanks for the good word.  The IDV can read and display almost anything 
> > (see 
> > http://www.unidata.ucar.edu/software/idv/docs/userguide/data/DataSources.html),
> >  including netCDF, GRIB, and even plain text.  What I need is for the 
> > software to put the lightning strokes on the same map as the radar data.  
> > Unidata has good user support and I will pose to them the question of how 
> > best to do that so I can better advise you.
> >
> > I definitely want time and location of the strokes.  Polarity is not a 
> > quantity that I need to do this project but if the dataset comes with it, 
> > that won't be a problem.  For what I want to do, strokes are better than 
> > flashes.  If my hypothesis has any merit, there will be faster charge 
> > separation in the strong mesocyclone so each individual return stroke 
> > should be counted.
> >
> > I wasn't aware that the NLDN could detect cloud flashes.  Please, by all 
> > means, include them.  The more data I can get the better.  The IDV can 
> > handle large datasets.
> >
> >
> > Thanks also for the papers.  I've been searching for papers which address 
> > charge separation, interface charging, and induction charging since classes 
> > ended in May.  The reference list you sent looks very up-to-date and will 
> > save me a lot of search time.
> >
> > I will get back to you about format after I hear from Unidata support.
> >
> > Jerry
> >
> > ===================
> >
> > Jerome B. Blechman
> > Earth Sciences Department
> > State University of New York
> > Oneonta, NY 13820-4015
> >
> > Phone:  (607) 436-3322 or (607) 436-3707
> > ________________________________________
> > From: address@hidden [address@hidden]
> > Sent: Wednesday, June 08, 2011 12:47 PM
> > To: Blechman, Jerome   (address@hidden)
> > Subject: NLDN Lightning Data
> >
> > Dr. Blechman-
> >
> >
> >
> > Your request for NLDN data was forwarded to me here at Vaisala in Tucson.  
> > I am a meteorologist who manages the research data requests.  It appears 
> > that your request qualifies for free data under the policy; thanks for 
> > filling out the form and supplying the abstract.  I would like to ask a few 
> > questions before proceeding with the internal data request:
> >
> >
> >
> > --We are not familiar with the IDV format, so could you provide information 
> > on how the data need to be formatted?  NLDN data come with year, month, 
> > day, hour, second, and millisecond, as well as latitude and longitude.  
> > Other parameters are available such as polarity, peak current, and other 
> > quality indicators.  Most likely, you will want time and location, and 
> > probably polarity.
> >
> >
> >
> > --Do you want flash or stroke?  A CG flash has one or more return strokes 
> > that can be identified separately or grouped into flashes.  The typical 
> > number of strokes is 3 to 5 per flash.  Most researchers have been using CG 
> > strokes in recent years.
> >
> >
> >
> > --Do you want any cloud flash information?  The NLDN detects about 10 to 
> > 30% of cloud strokes.  These are typically points located within a few km 
> > of the CG flash or stroke location, and are identified in the dataset as 
> > cloud.
> >
> >
> >
> > I have attached a recent paper by Cummins and Murphy that is an excellent 
> > resource on the NLDN.  Also attached is a bibliography of all known 
> > published papers on real-time lightning detection networks and their 
> > applications.
> >
> >
> >
> > Thanks.
> >
> >
> >
> > Ron
> >
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> >
> > From: Blechman, Jerome (address@hidden)
> >
> > [mailto:address@hidden]
> >
> > Sent: Tuesday, May 31, 2011 6:31 AM
> >
> > To: address@hidden
> >
> > Subject: Lightning data
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Good morning,
> >
> >
> >
> > I am interested in purchasing data on lightning strikes within 230 km of
> >
> > Birmingham, AL during a 12-hour period from 2 p.m. (EDT) April 27 to 2
> >
> > a.m. April 28.  Also, I need strikes within 230 km of Birmingham, AL
> >
> > during a 12-hour period from 2 p.m. (EDT) April 4 to 2 a.m. April 5.
> >
> > This data will be used for research that I wish to conduct on lightning
> >
> > in relation to horizontal velocity shear in severe thunderstorms on
> >
> > those two occasions.  I will need the information in a format that the
> >
> > Integrated Data Viewer (IDV) can read and display.
> >
> >
> >
> > I contacted Dr. Knight at SUNY-Albany who informed me that he is not
> >
> > allowed to distribute data that is not real-time.  Thus, I must obtain
> >
> > it through your company.
> >
> >
> >
> > Can you send me a price quote for providing these datasets in a format
> >
> > that will allow me to use them with the IDV?
> >
> >
> >
> > Thank you.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Jerome Blechman
> >
> > Professor of Meteorology
> >
> > ===================
> >
> >
> >
> > Jerome B. Blechman
> >
> > Earth Sciences Department
> >
> > State University of New York
> >
> > Oneonta, NY 13820-4015
> >
> >
> >
> > Phone:  (607) 436-3322 or (607) 436-3707
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> 


Ticket Details
===================
Ticket ID: XQY-387958
Department: Support IDV
Priority: Normal
Status: Closed