In all, the team has examined the lightning patterns in approximately 50 tropical cyclones since their lightning detection network, the World Wide Lightning Location Network (WWLLN), became operational in 2005. With the ability to detect lightning within 30 milliseconds after a strike, the team believes the WWLLN will soon become an important tool for hurricane prediction. "They are heading down a very exciting, very promising path," Steven Businger of the University of Hawaii said of the team. Businger operates the Long-range Lightning Detection Network (LLDN), which covers the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and most of the Pacific Ocean. He and his colleagues have observed similar lightning behavior in hurricanes, but cautions that eyewall replacement isn't the only way storms change in intensity. "Eyewall replacement isn't a requirement for cyclones to deepen, and some cyclones don't do it at all." he said. "During a replacement in hurricane Rita [in 2005] the inner eyewall was more electric, which is the opposite of what you'd expect. It goes to show you that these things don't always behave a certain way." Related Links: |
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