Global geolocation of intense lightning strokes associated with TLEs based on ELF measurements from single-station

A new, improved algorithm has been developed to geolocate intense lightning strokes around the globe. In the ELF (extremely low frequency) range, radio waves from lightning propagate in the Earth-ionosphere cavity and quasi-TEM is effectively the only radiated mode. The spectra depend on the distance between the source (lightning) and the observer. Based on theoretically predicted spectra, a numerical data base was established to compare with our experimental data. The algorithm allowed us to determine SOD (source-observer distance) with high resolution (50 km) while the source bearing was determined through a Lissajous figure for the magnetic field and Poynting vector components using a least-squares fitting method. The algorithm and ELF electromagnetic data from other groups allowed us to geolocate lightning strokes associated with TLEs (transient luminous events) which were observed from the Columbia space shuttle during MEIDEX with the first Israeli astronaut, Ilan Ramon, aboard.