We have developed a 3D lightning mapping system with an array of Discone Antennas working in the medium frequency-high frequency (MF-HF) bands. This system is called discone antenna lightning mapping array (DALMA) and has been deployed in Hokuriku area of Japan for the 3D mapping of winter lightning. Radio waves in the MF-HF bands are rarely used for lightning 3D mapping due to large noises in these frequency bands. However, we have demonstrated in this paper that by using a wideband antenna, 3D mapping in the MF-HF bands can also produce satisfactory results. We have analyzed two lightning flashes with complicated features observed in the last winter. In the first flash, we have successfully mapped an upward leader triggered by a negative cloud-to-ground (CG) lightning from a tall tower. In the second flash, we have successfully mapped a fast downward leader preceding an intense return stroke. Finally, we have also discussed the advantages of DALMA compared with other 3D mapping systems in LF or very high frequency (VHF) bands. © 2022 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.

中文翻译：

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日本冬季闪电的 3D 测绘与碟形天线阵列

我们开发了一个 3D 闪电测绘系统，其中包含在中频 - 高频 (MF-HF) 频段工作的碟形天线阵列。该系统称为碟形天线闪电测绘阵列 (DALMA)，已部署在日本北陆地区，用于冬季闪电的 3D 测绘。MF-HF 频带中的无线电波很少用于闪电 3D 映射，因为这些频带中的噪声很大。然而，我们在本文中已经证明，通过使用宽带天线，MF-HF 频段中的 3D 映射也可以产生令人满意的结果。我们分析了去年冬天观察到的两次具有复杂特征的闪电。在第一个闪光中，我们成功地绘制了由来自高塔的负云对地 (CG) 闪电触发的向上先导图。在第二次闪光中，我们已经成功地在激烈的回击之前绘制了一个快速向下的领先者。最后，我们还讨论了 DALMA 在 LF 或甚高频 (VHF) 频段与其他 3D 映射系统相比的优势。© 2022 日本电气工程师学会。由 Wiley Periodicals LLC 出版。