Characterization of the lightning activity in Argentina, an approach for estimating the annual death rate

M. G. NICORA; R. E. BÜRGESSER; E. J. QUEL; E. E. AVILA

Congreso; America Geophysical Union, Meeting of the Americas; 2013

The information about lightning activity is fundamental to atmospheric surveillance due its relevant applications on different aspects as security, defense, early warning system and for generation of statistical data for planning infrastructure projects. Few countries in the world have its own lightning detection networks which allow monitoring the lightning activity inside its national border. The development of the World Wide Lightning Location Network (WWLLN) provides a confidence global lightning data with low cost, which was already used to characterize the lightning activity in several regions of the world. The aim of the present work is the use of the lightning data obtained by the WWLLN to make an analysis on the lightning activity over Argentina between the years 2005-2012. In order to achieve this objective the isoceraunic maps of Argentina were made. These maps will be incorporated to the standard IRAM 2184-11 ?lightning protection?. Furthermore, by using data of flash per km2 per year, we provide a model for estimating deaths from lightning. The model was developed by Gomes and Kadir (2011) and is based on the parameterizations of the flash density, population density and urbanization of a given region. The model was adapted for Argentina and Brazil in order to obtain an estimation of deaths in different regions. The results obtained allows to promote protective behaviors in the population.