Performance Analysis of Filtered VHF Signals Captured by Lightning Interferometer System

Abstract

A lightning interferometer is a system that can determine the location of Very High Frequency (VHF) radiation of lightning. Such system has been studied and used for several decades ago. In this project, VHF Interferometer is used to determine the location of VHF radiations emitted by Narrow Bipolar Event (NBE) lightning flash by correlating the signals that received at three antennas. In order to get the better result, cross-correlation algorithm technique is employed to process the signals. This algorithm can determine the time delay between the antennas baselines and then determine the azimuth and elevation angles which are used to locate the location of the NBE flash. This interferometer system also can act as an earlier warning system as it detects the first cloud flash and a forecast can be made before cloud-to-ground flashes occur. Therefore, this interferometer system is very useful for the public citizens in protecting themselves from lightning strikes. © 2019 Published under licence by IOP Publishing Ltd.