Microburst/windshear warning system
First Claim
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1. A system for predicting the occurrence of microburst/windshear comprising:
- a. one or more sensors responsive to signals from a thunderstorm to generate sensor signals;
b. one or more data processors in communication with said sensors for processing the sensor signals to produce data;
c. a warning device responsive to the data produced by one or more of said data processors for warning a user that a microburst/windshear will occur within a defined number of minutes at a location defined by the data, when the data indicate that the lightning rate exceeds a first threshold value, the time rate of lightning increase exceeds a second theshold value and there is a peak in the lightning rate.
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Abstract
A system for predicting the occurence of microburst/windshear comprising at least one sensor for receiving lightning produced signals, a processor for processing those received signals to produce data and generate a warning when the processed data indicates that a microburst/windshear is about to occur.
92 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A system for predicting the occurrence of microburst/windshear comprising:
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a. one or more sensors responsive to signals from a thunderstorm to generate sensor signals; b. one or more data processors in communication with said sensors for processing the sensor signals to produce data; c. a warning device responsive to the data produced by one or more of said data processors for warning a user that a microburst/windshear will occur within a defined number of minutes at a location defined by the data, when the data indicate that the lightning rate exceeds a first threshold value, the time rate of lightning increase exceeds a second theshold value and there is a peak in the lightning rate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A system for predicting the occurrence of microburst/windshear comprising:
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a. one or more sensors for receiving signals produced by lightning and generating sensor signals; b. one or more processors in communication with said sensors processors for processing said sensor signals and predicting the occurence of a microburst/windshear, said processor comprising i. a flash location device for determining the rate of lightning flashes, the change in the rate of lightning flashes and the position of the lightning flashes to define a center of activity; ii. a center of activity location device for determining the direction and speed of a center of activity as determined by the location of the lightning flashes and a wind vector associated with the thunderstorm; iii. a microburst/windshear analyzing device for predicting the occurence of a microburst/windshear by comparing the rate of lightning flashes and the change in the rate of lightning flashes with its respective threshold value, and searching for the occurence of a peak in the rate of lightning flashes; and iv. a warning device for warning a user of the impending occurence of a microburst/windshear, when the rate of lightning and the change in the lightning rate exceed its respective threshold and a peak in the lightning rate is detected within a center of activity. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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15. A system for predicting the occurrence of microburst/windshear comprising:
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one or more sensors for receiving signals produced by lightning and generating a sensor signal; one or more processors in communication with said sensors for processing said sensor signals and predicting the occurrence of a microburst/windshear, said processor adapted to execute; i. an algorithm to determine the location of a lightning flash relative to a center of activity; ii. an algorithm to determine the location of the center of activity; iii. an algorithm to predict the direction and speed of the center of activity; iv. an algorithm to determine the rate of lightning flashes; v. an algorithm to determine the change in the rate of lightning flashes; vi. an algorithm to predict the occurence of a microburst/windshear as determined by the rate, change in rate, and aerial density of lightning flashes; and vii. an algorithm for displaying the results of the calculations of the algorithm to display the microburst/windshear warning and the predicted location of the microburst/windshear.
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16. A system for predicting the occurrence of microburst/windshear comprising:
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at least one for receiving signals produced by lightning and producing sensor signals; a processor incommunication with said sensor for processing said sensor signals and predicting the occurrence of a microburst/windshear, said processor comprising; i. an apparatus to determine the location of a lightning flash relative to a center of activity; ii. an apparatus to determine the location of a center of activity; iii. an apparatus to determine the direction and speed of the center of activity; iv. an apparatus to determine the rate of lightning flashes; v. an apparatus to determine the change in the rate of lightning flashes; vi. an apparatus to predict the occurence of a microburst/windshear as determined by the rate, change in rate, and position of lightning flashes; and vii. an apparatus for displaying the results of the calculations of the algorithm to display microburst/windshear warning and the predicted location of the microburst/windshear.
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18. A method for predicting microburst/windshear hazard comprising the steps of:
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receiving signals produced by lightning; determining the location of the center of activity from said received signals; determining the direction and speed of said center of activity; determining the rate of lightning flashes; determining the change in the rate of lightning flashes; determining that a microburst/windshear is about to occur when the rate of lightning exceeds a first threshold value, and the change in the rate of lightning exceeds a second threshold value and a peak in the rate of lightning is measured within a given location as defined by the lightning flashes; and warning the user that a microburst/windshear will occur within a defined number of minutes.
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Specification