The location accuracy of the U.S. National Lightning Detection Network (NLDN) has been evaluated using as ground‐truth rocket‐triggered lightning data or video records but only at a few specific locations. In this study, by using the NLDN data for the events attributable to lightning strikes to towers, the location error of the NLDN across the entire contiguous United States was evaluated for the first time. We found that, on average, the NLDN median location error reduced from 198 to 84 m after the 2013 NLDN upgrade. The location error at the periphery of the network is significantly larger than that in its interior. In the coastal regions, there is directional location bias toward the water. Simulation results suggest that the bias is related to the lengthening of field waveform front due to electromagnetic wave propagation over lossy ground coupled with the asymmetrical sensor configuration relative to the strike point (lack of offshore sensors).

中文翻译：

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用塔的雷击分析美国国家雷电检测网络的位置误差。

美国国家雷电检测网络（NLDN）的定位精度已被用作地面真火箭触发的闪电数据或视频记录，但仅在少数几个特定位置进行了评估。在这项研究中，通过将NLDN数据用于可归因于铁塔的雷击事件，首次评估了NLDN在整个连续美国范围内的位置误差。我们发现，2013年NLDN升级后，平均NLDN中位数定位误差从198降低到84 m。网络外围的定位误差明显大于其内部的定位误差。在沿海地区，朝向水的方向偏向。