West Texas Lightning Mapping Array Data for GOES-R Validation

Lightning discharge data provides a three-dimensional map of total lightning activity captured by the West Texas LMA network. This dataset was collected during the GOES-R Post Launch Test airborne field campaign from March 1 to June 1, 2017, to validate satellite instruments. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration produced the data, which is available in compressed ASCII files.

Use Cases

• Validating Geostationary Lightning Mapper (GLM) satellite observations using ground-based three-dimensional source locations.
• Analyzing the temporal evolution of lightning flashes over West Texas during the spring 2017 campaign.
• Studying the relationship between lightning radiation source heights and storm intensity using 3D coordinate data.
• Correlating lightning activity data with other meteorological datasets from the GOES-R Post Launch Test field campaign.

Strengths

• Data provides three-dimensional source locations for lightning radiation, enabling spatial analysis.
• Covers a defined 3-month time range (March 1 to June 1, 2017) for a focused field campaign.
• Produced by NASA for a specific satellite validation purpose, indicating a controlled collection methodology.
• Presence on multiple authoritative platforms (Data.gov, NASA Earthdata) signals importance and reliability.

Limitations

• Exact row count, file size, and specific column names are not provided by any source.
• Sources conflict on the last updated date: Data.gov lists 2026-03-13, while NASA Earthdata lists 2017-06-01.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Collection Method

Measured arrival times of radiation from lightning discharges at multiple West Texas LMA network stations.

Time Range

March 1, 2017 through June 1,我们这个月

Freshness

2026-03-13 02:01:03.866783

Geography

West Texas, USA