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Stormscope Weather Mapping System

L-3 WX-500

Prepared by

TJ Spitzmiller

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Lightning• Lightning comes in three types,

– fork,

– ball, and

– sheet.

• Fork is most wide-spread—ball is very rare.

• Because lightning is an intense electrical discharge – it generates electromagnetic frequencies (EMF)

– can be picked up by a “radio receiver”

– Try listening to an AM radio station during a thunderstorm.

Concepts

• First airborne instrument developed specifically to detect and map thunderstorms

• Analyzes radiated signals of electrical discharges (lightning) from storm cells.

• During cumulus stage storm cells are usually precipitation-free– Weather radar unable to show activity.

• Stormscope detects electrical activity already present as storm builds – Provides accurate view of areas to be avoided.

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Function

• Processes both azimuth and range to determine the location and intensity of dangerous thunderstorm cells

• Presents findings in real-time• Plots lightning as it happens, before the onset

of precipitation

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Features

• Displays lightning in 25, 50, 100 and 200 nm ranges

• Pilot selectable Cell and Strike modes360-degree view or 120-degree forward looking

• Updates lightning information every second

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Lightning Age

< 6 sec

6-60 sec

1-2 min

2-3 min

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plem

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tion

• Heading stabilized• Powered by Avionics Bus 1

Strike Rate indicator details building or dissipating storms.

View on dedicated display HDG UPData NOT available on moving map.

CELL Mode uses a clustering pgm to ID center of activity.

Stormscope Views

360 Degree View Arc View

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Display

• MFD Map WX Page• MFD-Navigation WX Page• Choose Strike or Cell display (mode key)• Strike mode shows every discharge• Cell mode uses clustering algorithm to locate

cells• Displays an average STRIKE RATE per minute

– Updated every 5 seconds

• Periodically clear display to assist in evaluation

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POH Caution• Use only for WX avoidance NOT for penetration.

• If heading is changed, strikes/cells must be cleared manually after executing each turn

• Annunciator Alert – STRMSCP FAIL

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XM WX

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2. No Lightning Info at ranges less than 25

NM

31.

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XM LTNG Strikes

Cell Movement

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Break