Storm mapping system

Abstract

A storm mapping system detects electrical activity caused by weather phenomona such as lightning strokes, and the like and displays information related to the electrical activity indicative of storm location in a frame of reference in which the observation location is taken as the origin. In order to give the observer good spatial understanding, signals detected from a relatively close disturbance (which produces relatively large signals) are displayed relatively close to the observation location as compared to display of signals generated from a relatively further disturbance which produces relatively smaller signals which are displayed relatively far from the observation location. The limited resolution display is effectively driven by signals read from digital storage wherein mapping between the different display segments and digital storage is maintained. The display indicates, in addition to location, intensity of the disturbance by providing a steady illumination for disturbances of relatively low intensity, a slowly flashing display for disturbances of increased intensity, and a quickly flashing display for disturbances of highest intensity. Intensity information is built up as a function of time over which signals may be received related to a particular display segment. In order to maintain the integrity of the data, all locations have the data reduced at a rate related to the intensity stored data.