SBIR-STTR Award

Our ultimate goal is the design, test and deployment of a decision aid to minimize interactions of High Altitude Airships (HAAs) with thunderstorms producing intense electrodynamic disturbances in the lower stratosphere associated with tropospheric lightning-induced phenomena collectively known as Transient Luminous Events (TLEs). Evidence points to intense, transient electric fields, some with highly impulsive characteristics, and even lightning-like electrical discharges emerging from cloud tops, at HAA altitudes. Until the electrical environment can be properly quantified and vehicles appropriately hardened, avoidance of the parent storms appears a prudent policy. In Phase III, we would the make operational the software that would be incorporated into a field-deployable work station allowing HAA operators to reposition vehicles away from regions with forecasted electrical hazards within the upcoming 72 hours, plus identifying near-term storms producing TLEs (nowcasting). In order to deploy the SENTRIH system (pronounced "sentry"), for Stratospheric ENvironmental Thunderstorm-Related Interferences to HAAs, several technical challenges must be met: (1) diagnosing those storm types known to produce TLEs from operational numerical weather prediction models, (2) demonstrating real-time detection and location of sprite/elve producing lightning strokes using ELF/VLF signal transient analysis, and (3) determining an RF or meteorological signature for blue jet and giant jets

MDA’s planned High Altitude Airship (HAA) will require long term, all weather operational station-keeping capability. During Phase II, a prototype, 3-station national charge moment change network (CMCN) will be established to operationally detect those lightning strokes inducing intense and impulsive electric fields associated with middle atmospheric sprites, halos, elves, etc. (collectively called transient luminous events, or TLEs). The SENTRIH system (a portable display linked via the Internet to a 24x7 meteorological operations center) will provide HAA operators with situational awareness of current TLE-related hazards, plus planning forecasts out to 72 hours. During Phase II, real-time CMCN observations will be confirmed by specialized camera systems located at various locales around the U.S. in order to thoroughly test, document and evaluate the performance of the SENTRIH meteorological display and TLE alerting and forecasting algorithms. At Phase II’s completion, a working software system, documentation and users’ manuals will be available to facilitate transition to the Phase III operational implementation over CONUS through licensing to a commercial partner. SENTRIH will be designed for graceful expansion for application in theater or global operations. TLEs, lightning, sprites, elves, halos, blue jets,