Analysis of lightning localization errors based on different station layouts

To explore the influence of the lightning detection station layout on lightning location accuracy, the magnetic field waveform observation data from the natural lightning observation test base at Jiuxian Mountain in Fujian Province were used and ten return strokes of cloud-to-ground flashes from different orientations and distances both inside and outside of the detection network were selected. Using the time of arrival (TOA) method and the positioning results by 10 (or 9) stations as the references, we compared and analyzed the discrepancies of location results under different combinations of 5 to 8 stations. The possible reasons for the discrepancies in the location results were also explored. The results show that lightning location is closely related to the number of stations and the layout of the stations. For the same number of stations, large differences in the location results can be found for different station layouts, but with the increase in the number of stations, the differences caused by different station layouts gradually decrease. For the location with the same number and layout of stations, there are also significant differences in the localization deviations for lightning from different orientations and distances. The deviation of lightning localization outside of the network is significantly larger than that inside the network. The positions of lightning outside the network often show a "band-like distribution", and the farther the lightning is away from the network, the more obvious the deviation of this "band-like distribution" is. This is due to the narrow spatial region formed by the intersection of hyperbolas.