Development of an Lf Station for a Real-Time Lightning Detection System in Malaysia

A real-time three-dimensional (3D) lightning detection and prediction system was proposed to improve lightning mapping accuracy and develop an early warning system for disasters like flash floods. The proposed system consists of a network of nine low-frequency (LF) stations, two sets of three very-high-frequency (VHF) systems, one current measurement station, and one set of high-energy radiation detection systems. The Negeri Sembilan Meteorological Office in Kuala Pilah was chosen as a site to install one of the nine LF stations. This paper aims to demonstrate the verification process for the site to be designated as an LF station. The methodology for site verification involves physical observations for several criteria and background noise measurements. The criteria for the site include clear view, no high fences, sufficient space, low background noise, and no interference with host's equipment. The LF sensor was used for background noise measurements with the requirement of signal amplitudes being less than 30 mV. A site visit on 19 September 2023 found that the average background noise level was below 5 mV. A signal from a lightning nearby was unexpectedly captured during the noise measurements, indicating that the signal-to-noise ratio is high enough at the site that a lightning signal would not be lost during measurements. Three dimensionless waveform parameters and two temporal parameters were analyzed for the accidental lightning signal. It was found that the five waveform criteria agreed with values obtained from several other studies. The set up of the LF station and other essential equipment such as the