Matching system between convective cell in weather radar image and lightning and control method thereof

• US 9,864,056 B2
• Filed: 09/08/2015
• Issued: 01/09/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Korea Meteorlogical Administration (Government of South Korea)
• Original Assignee: Korea Meteorlogical Administration (Government of South Korea)
• Inventors: Kim, Ji Young, Ko, Jeong Seok, Yang, Hi Jun, Kwon, Tae Sun, Oh, Seung Jun, Lee, Jeong Deok, Park, Mi Young, Lee, Gyu Won, Jung, Sung Hwa
• Primary Examiner(s): Sotomayor, John B
• Application Number:
  US14/848,155
• Publication Number:
  US 20160154101A1
• Time in Patent Office: 854 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/953 mounted on aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/06 Cathode-ray tube displays or other two dimensional or three-dimensional displays
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 90/10 Information and communication technologies [ICT] supporting adaptation to climate change, e.g. for weather forecasting or climate simulation

Abstract

The present invention discloses a matching system between a convective cell in a weather radar image and lightning, and a control method thereof. In other words, according to the invention, convective cells are detected in a weather radar image, lightning is detected through a total lightning detection system, and the detected lightning is matched with the detected convective cells in the weather radar image. Therefore, it is possible to rapidly and accurately match and confirm a lightning-generated convective cell of a plurality of convective cells.

Claims

1. A matching system between a convective cell in a weather radar image and lightning, which matches a convective cell detected in a weather radar image with detected lightning, comprising:

a total lightning detection system (TLDS) that collects data about generated lightning, analyzes the collected data about lightning, and transmits the analyzed lightning information;

a weather radar center system that detects one or more convective cells present in a radar image detected through a weather radar, and transmits information about one or more detected convective cells; and

a terminal that confirms whether there is a convective cell overlapped with an ellipse interface of lightning corresponding to the lightning information in a convective cell range included in the received information about one or more convective cells, determines that the overlapped lightning is generated from the overlapped convective cell when there is the convective cell overlapped with the ellipse interface of the lightning corresponding to the lightning information in one or more convective cell ranges as the confirmation result, and matches the overlapped lightning information with the convective cell.

2. The matching system between a convective cell in a weather radar image and lightning according to claim 1, wherein the total lightning detection system collects data about generated lightning through a TOA (time of arrival) sensor, filters data in which the number of sensors observing a lightning phenomenon is three or more in the lightning data corresponding to a lightning type for cloud and ground as a lightning data type on the basis of properties of the TOA sensor, and transmits the filtered lightning information to the terminal.

3. A control method of a matching system between a convective cell in a weather radar image and lightning, which matches a convective cell detected in a weather radar image with detected lightning, the method comprising:

collecting, through a total lightning detection system, data about generated lightning, analyzing the collected data about lightning, and transmitting the analyzed lightning information to the terminal;

detecting, through a weather radar center system, one or more convective cells present in a detected radar image, and transmitting the information about one or more detected convective cells to the terminal;

confirming, through the terminal, whether there is a convective cell overlapped with an ellipse interface of lightning corresponding to the lightning information in a convective cell range included in the received information about one or more convective cells; and

determining, through the terminal, that the overlapped lightning is generated from the overlapped convective cell when there is the convective cell overlapped with the ellipse interface of the lightning corresponding to the lightning information in one or more convective cell ranges as the confirmation result, and matching the overlapped lightning information with the convective cell.

4. The control method of a matching system between a convective cell in a weather radar image and lightning according to claim 3, wherein the detecting of one or more convective cells present in the detected radar image includes:

generating, through the weather radar center system, a 3-dimensional CAPPI (Constant Altitude Plan Position Indicator) through the weather radar center system; and

distinguishing, through the weather radar center system, a reflectivity cell related to risk weather.

5. The control method of a matching system between a convective cell in a weather radar image and lightning according to claim 4, wherein the generating of the 3-dimensional CAPPI includes:

collecting radar reflectivity data;

displaying the collected radar reflectivity data on a polar coordinate system by radar volume data; and

performing coordinate conversion for the radar volume data.

6. The control method of a matching system between a convective cell in a weather radar image and lightning according to claim 4, wherein the distinguishing of the reflectivity cell related to the risk weather includes:

determining all grid elements having a reflectivity more than a preset threshold value of reflectivity in 3-dimensional radar reflectivity data, and giving individual identification numbers to all the determined grid elements;

searching x coordinates and y coordinates of all the grid elements, determines grid elements, the y coordinates of which are the same and the x coordinates are adjacent, as 1-dimensional segments, and giving identification numbers to the determined 1-dimensional segments;

searching y coordinates of all the 1-dimensional segments, and determining 1-dimensional segments, y coordinates of which are adjacent, as 2-dimensional components;

searching all the 2-dimensional components in a z direction that is a vertical direction, and determining 2-dimensional components, z coordinates of which are adjacent, as a 3-dimensional reflectivity cell;

confirming whether there is a value smaller than a volume threshold value in the 3-dimensional radar reflectivity cell;

excluding, when there is the 3-dimensional component with a volume smaller than the volume threshold value as the confirmation result, the 3-dimensional component with the volume smaller than the volume threshold value in the final determination;

projecting, when there is a 3-dimensional component with a volume equal to or larger than the volume threshold value as the confirmation result, the 3-dimensional component with the volume equal to or larger than the volume threshold value onto an x-y plane, determining it as a 2-dimensional reflectivity cell, detecting a 3-dimensional reflectivity cell corresponding to a 3-dimensional component with a volume equal to or larger than the volume threshold value as a convective cell;

calculating 3-dimensional property information and 2-dimensional property information from the 3-dimensional reflectivity cell and the 2-dimensional reflectivity cell; and

displaying a CMAX (column maximum) image and a storm 2D image on the basis of the detected convective cell and the calculated property information.