System and method for synchronizing lightning detectors

摘要

A synchronization system and method for a lightning location system having a plurality of remote lightning detectors transmitting data to a lightning position analyzer via a communication system having variable transmission delays. Each lightning detector includes a clock for identifying the time of occurrence of a lightning event such as cloud to ground lightning discharge, the time of occurrence data being transmitted to the position analyzer along with other data representing the lightning event. The position analyzer also includes a clock for identifying the time of arrival at the analyzer of data representing a lightning event. Lightning events are correlated by the position analyzer by comparing the time intervals between the occurrence of lightning events detected by one detector and the time intervals between the occurrence of lightning events detected by a second detector. The dfference between the time of occurrence of a lightning event detected by the one detector and the time of occurrence of a correlated lightning event detected by the second detector is used as a correction factor to synchronize the two detectors. Synchronized detectors are synched to the position analyzer clock by using the minimum difference between the time of arrival of data representing a lightning event and the time of occurrence of the lightning event detected by a synchronized detector.