Lightning Mapping Imager (LMI)

Description

One of the first two lightning mappers for geostationary meteorological satellite in the world, and the Chinese first ever made instrument such as this. Technically featured by planar CCD array and optic imaging sector, to keep track of thunderstorm development by detecting and mapping the lightning events occurring in a cloud, cloud-cloud, or cloud-ground within the observation area. For service to aviation, railway, power supply company, as well as strong convective weather monitoring.

LMI looks at China area in spring-autumn seasons, and at Indian ocean and west Australia the rest of a year.

Satellite FY-4A 
Weight 65kg
Dimension 528mm (length) × 346mm (width) × 1032mm (height)
CCD 400 × 600 units
Image rate 500 frames per second
Central wave-length 777.4nm
Bandwidth 1nm
Spatial Resolution 7.8km
Total field angle 4.98° (latitudinal) × 7.41° (longitudal)
Detection efficiency 90%
False alarm rate 10%

Observation range of LMI from spring to autumn (105°E)

Data and Products

Satellite Instrument Data Code
FY-4A LMI L2L3 product

Calibration and Validation

LMI calibration and validation

LMI

LMI