Thunderstorm detectors

Just food for thought. Saw this on a paddling forum, just curious if the science behind this is sound and that a device like this could actually be accurate or not:

http://www.spectrumthunderbolt.com/personal.html

Jay

I'd be curious to know if they are more effective and reliable than the old tune-between-radio-stations and listen for the static trick.

I would think those have some limitations. When a severe thunderstorm warning is issued it relies on radar to show where the storm is heading. My question is how does this device track it? If you are out in the woods, there could be a storm 15 min away from you, but maybe its moving in a different direction. It still seems like a pretty neat gadget, but way too expensive for me. I still rely on checkin forecasts, radar and this great lightning detection website when I go out.

grouseking

Yoiks! Those are expensive.

I'll stick to the AM radio.

Due to the ways in which radio signals travel, the AM radio is ok during the day (short range), but at night the signals can travel hundreds of miles (sometimes thousands) due to ionosphereic reflection. Switch to FM (or a weather radio tuned between stations) at night. (You can also see the static on your TV if you use a terrestrial broadcast antenna.) These signals tend to be short range (<100mi) most of the time, but there are occasions when the signals can travel up to ~1500 miles or more. (Tropospheric ducting, for the technically inclined.)

In general, a small hand held device can only detect the presence of lightning. A slightly larger device (ie bigger antenna plus processing and display box, but perhaps it could be made handheld) can also show direction. (IIRC, there was a write-up on how to make one with crossed loop antennas and an oscilloscope in the "Amateur Scientist" column in "Scientific American" magazine many years ago.) It would take a radar to give you a good direction and distance.

And don't forget the old time between the flash and the boom method--5 seconds per mile.

Doug

It doesn't say if they are waterproof.

Pete_Hickey said:

It doesn't say if they are waterproof.

Click to expand...

Perhaps they are designed for indoor use only...

Doug

..or perhaps Single use only...

In the FAQ, they mention the waterproofness:

Should I be cautious while using the ThunderBolt around water?

Yes. Remember, the ThunderBolt is weather-resistant, but is NOT waterproof and definitely not submersible. Never use the 120VAC or 220VAC adapter around water, inside or outside!

Click to expand...

Jay