JP3229576B2 - Lightning case search device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a user who generates lightning (hereinafter referred to as "lightning") based on observation results of the state of the atmosphere acquired by a weather observation device such as a weather radar.
The present invention relates to a lightning case search device for providing information necessary for predicting and determining a lightning case.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 12 shows, for example, IEICE Technical Report SANE93-87 (1994-01), pp.
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a ground lightning detection device for a ground in 107-113 (hereinafter referred to as Document 1). This device includes a weather radar device 1 for periodically observing echo information of clouds, a radar echo analyzer 2 for converting the echo information into a three-dimensional echo intensity spatial distribution and a two-dimensional echo intensity plane distribution, and a high-level weather information. High-level meteorological information input device 3, a lightning-determining element calculating unit 4 that calculates lightning-determining element data serving as a material for determining a lightning risk for each point based on the echo intensity spatial distribution and the high-level weather information A lightning risk calculating unit 5 that calculates the lightning risk at each point based on the lightning determination element data, a static direction detecting device 6 that measures the direction of radio waves generated from the lightning discharge, and a static direction detecting device 6. A lightning point locating unit 7 for locating the lightning position from the direction measurement results. Echo intensity image data drawn by superimposing the lightning position on a two-dimensional echo intensity plane distribution and a two-dimensional distribution of the lightning risk. Draw over Image generating unit 8 for generating lightning risk image data, and is configured from an image display unit 9 for displaying the echo intensity image or lightning risk picture.

Next, the operation of the conventional apparatus having the above-described configuration will be described. The weather radar device 1 has a radius of, for example, 100 km and an altitude of 18 k around the weather radar device 1.
At each spatial point within the range of m, echoes from raindrops and ice crystals in the cloud are observed at intervals of about 5 minutes. The radar echo analysis unit 2 inputs the observation result of the weather radar device 1 and performs a smoothing process of the echo data and the like, and then, for example, sets one mesh section to a cube of 1 km per side, and sets a horizontal plane of the observation space range. The data is converted into three-dimensional echo intensity distribution data represented by echo intensity values in each mesh section obtained by dividing the altitude direction into 18 meshes of 200 × 200 mesh, and sends the data to the lightning determination element calculation unit 4. In addition, the three-dimensional echo intensity distribution data is obtained by integrating the echo intensity values of 18 meshes in the altitude direction for each 200 × 200 plane mesh, or by selecting an echo intensity value at a certain predetermined altitude. Converted into two-dimensional echo intensity distribution data,
The dimensional echo intensity distribution data is sent to the image generator 8.

[0004] The lightning determination element calculation unit 4 receives the three-dimensional echo intensity distribution data from the radar echo analysis unit 2 and the high-level weather information from the high-level weather information input device 3 and calculates 200 × 200 Various characteristic data (hereinafter, referred to as a lightning determination element) serving as a guideline for determining a lightning risk is calculated for each plane mesh section. As a lightning determination element, for example, the thickness of the thundercloud in the altitude direction, -20 ° C
At the altitude of the radar, the determination result of the development / weakness of the echo intensity, and the determination result of the development / weakness of the radar echo peak height.
This is the same as the calculation method shown in FIG.

[0005] The lightning risk calculating section 5 receives the various lightning determining element data from the lightning determining element calculating section 4 and weights them for each data to make a comprehensive determination, thereby obtaining each plane. Calculate the value of the lightning risk in the mesh section. The lightning risk is sent to the image generation unit 8 as 200 × 200 two-dimensional data.

On the other hand, the direction detecting device 6 measures the direction of the VHF radio wave generated from the lightning discharge. The static direction finder 6 is installed at a plurality of different positions, and the azimuth measurement result of each static direction finder 6 is sent to the lightning point locating unit 7. In the lightning point locating unit 7, for example, as shown in FIG.
The lightning position is located from the azimuth measurement results of a plurality (three) of the direction detecting devices by the resection method, and the located position is sent to the image generating unit 8.

[0007] In the image generation unit 8, the radar echo analysis unit 2
The two-dimensional echo intensity distribution data is input, the two-dimensional data of the lightning risk is input from the lightning risk calculation unit 5, and the data of the lightning point locating position is input from the lightning point locating unit 7. 14 (a), a lightning strike position is superimposed on the two-dimensional radar echo intensity distribution, and an image obtained by adding the time of this image information (corresponding to the observation time of the radar echo) (hereinafter, referred to as the following). 14 is called an echo intensity image) and FIG.
As shown in (b), an image in which the position of the lightning point is drawn on the two-dimensional distribution of the lightning risk and the time of this image information (corresponding to the observation time of the radar echo) is added (hereinafter, the lightning risk) Image data). In FIG. 14, for example, the echo intensity image of (a) is shown in four levels of large / medium / small / none in the echo intensity value. However, actually, the echo intensity image may be displayed in more detailed steps. . The image data generated by the image generation unit 8 is sent to the image display unit 9. The image display unit 9 allows the user to select and display either the echo intensity image or the lightning risk image.

[0008]

As described above, the conventional apparatus displays the present lightning risk degree determined from the result of one observation of the thundercloud echo by the weather radar apparatus 1, so that the user can view the future lightning risk. The possibility of lightning could not be accurately predicted. In addition, there is a problem that data to be used as a material for the judgment is insufficient when empirically judging the possibility of a lightning strike at a future time based on the observation result at the current time.

The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and has a function of searching for and displaying past cases of thunderclouds similar to the current thundercloud weather conditions, in addition to the conventional functions. The purpose of the present invention is to obtain a highly useful lightning case search device that allows a user to predict and determine the possibility of a lightning strike at a future time by referring to information on whether or not a lightning strike actually occurred in this similar case. And

[0010]

According to the present invention, there is provided a lightning case search apparatus which periodically observes cloud echo information, a three-dimensional echo intensity spatial distribution and a two-dimensional echo intensity spatial distribution. A radar echo analysis unit that converts the echo intensity into a plane distribution, an upper weather information input device that inputs the upper weather information, and a material for determining a lightning risk at each point based on the echo intensity spatial distribution and the upper weather information. A lightning judgment element calculating unit that calculates lightning judgment element data, a lightning risk calculation unit that calculates a lightning risk degree at each point based on the lightning judgment element data, and a radio wave generated from lightning discharge. A plurality of static direction detectors for measuring the direction, a lightning point location unit for determining the position of the lightning from the direction measurement results of the plurality of static direction detectors, and the lightning point distribution in the two-dimensional echo intensity plane distribution Position overlap An image generator for generating lightning risk image data in which the lightning position is superimposed on the echo intensity image data and the two-dimensional distribution of the lightning risk, and displaying the echo intensity image or the lightning risk image An image display unit, a search point designation operation unit for designating a plurality of search points on the echo intensity image or the lightning risk image displayed on the image display unit, and a time for each of the plurality of designated search points. And a search point data setting unit that sets search key data composed of the coordinates and the value of the lightning determination element; a search key database that stores the search key data obtained for past weather cases in advance; A plurality of search key data sets at the same time and having the same coordinate value and lightning judgment element value are searched from the search key database, and a plurality of search key data sets are searched. A search processing unit that calculates a similarity to a search point; and a search result display unit that displays, as a search result case, time information and a similarity of a set of the searched key data in which the similarity is equal to or greater than a reference value. And a case selection operation unit capable of selecting an arbitrary case from the displayed search result cases, and accumulating images taken of past weather cases of the echo intensity image and the lightning risk image. An image database, and an image reading unit that reads the echo intensity image or the lightning risk image from the image database up to a predetermined time after the occurrence time of the search result case selected by the case selection operation unit. The search key data obtained after the start of operation of the device is added to and stored in the search key database, and the search key data obtained after the start of operation of the device is stored. And a case data storage operation section for adding and storing the echo intensity image and the lightning risk image to the image database.

[0011] Further, a memory for a lightning determination element for storing the past N lightning determination element data calculated by the lightning determination element calculation unit, an echo intensity image generated by the image generation unit, and a lightning flash. And an image memory for storing image data of the past N images of the risk level image, wherein the image display unit is configured to output the image data of the past N echo intensity images or lightning risk level images stored in the image memory. The arbitrarily selected image is displayed, and the search point designation operation unit displays the M (M ≦ N) time-series echo intensity images or the M (M ≦ N) images sequentially displayed on the image display unit. The search point data setting unit specifies one search point on each of the series of lightning risk images, and the search point data setting unit sets a time, a coordinate, and a lightning determination element for each of the M search points specified in the time series. Set the search key data consisting of the value The search processing unit generates a set of search key data having the same time interval as the M time-series search points specified on the image and having similar coordinate values and lightning determination element values with the corresponding search points. A search is performed from a search key database, and a similarity of the set of search key data to the search point is calculated.

[0012] The case data accumulating operation section includes an accumulating operation switching operation section capable of switching whether or not a current case is accumulated in the search key database and the image database, and an accumulating operation switching operation section. When the operation is turned on, the operation of writing the search key data for all current points to the search key database is started, and when the storage operation is turned off, the search key data accumulator stops the writing operation. And, when the storage operation is turned on by the storage operation switching operation unit, the operation of writing the image data of the current echo intensity image and the lightning risk image to the image database is started, and the storage operation is turned off. In such a case, the writing operation is continued after a predetermined time, and then the image data storage is stopped. It is.

The case data storage operation section determines whether or not there is a point where the lightning risk is equal to or higher than a reference value, and extracts the coordinate value of the point when the point exists. A search key data storage unit that writes the search key data corresponding to the coordinates of the point to the search key database when there is a point where the lightning risk is equal to or greater than a reference value; When there is a point where the lightning risk is equal to or more than the reference value, after continuing the operation of writing the image data of the echo intensity image and the lightning risk image to the image database for a predetermined time, the writing operation is performed. And a stopped image data accumulator.

Further, the case data storage operation unit writes the search key data corresponding to the coordinates of the search point to the search key database when the operation of designating the search point is performed. When the operation of designating the search point is performed, after performing the operation of writing the image data of the echo intensity image and the lightning risk image to the image database for a predetermined time, the writing operation is stopped. And an image data storage device.

[0015]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiment 1 FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a lightning case search device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. 1, the same parts as those of the conventional example shown in FIG. 12 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted. As a new code, 10 is a search point designation operation unit for designating a plurality of search points on the echo intensity image or lightning risk image displayed on the image display unit 9, and 11 is each of the designated plurality of search points. A search point data setting unit that sets search key data composed of time, coordinates, and the value of a lightning determination element, 12 is a search key database that previously stores search key data obtained for past weather cases, A search unit 13 searches the search key database 12 for a set of search key data at the same time and having a similar coordinate value and lightning determination element value with a plurality of designated search points, and searches the search key data set for the search points. A search processing unit for calculating a similarity to the search key data set, and displays the time information and the similarity of the set of the searched key data in which the similarity is equal to or more than the reference value as a search result case. Search result display section, 15 case selecting operation unit that can select any case from among the displayed search results cases, 17
Is an image database for storing images taken of past weather cases of the echo intensity image and the lightning risk image, and 16 is a starting point of the occurrence time of the search result case selected by the case selection operation unit 15 An image reading unit for reading the echo intensity image or the lightning risk image up to a predetermined time thereafter from the image database 17. The image reading unit 18 reads the search key data obtained since the start of operation of the apparatus. And a case data accumulating unit that accumulates the echo intensity image and the lightning risk image taken after the start of the operation of the apparatus in addition to the image database 17.

In the configuration shown in FIG. 1, the observation period and observation range of the meteorological radar device, the size of one mesh section for analyzing echo data, the number of meshes, and the like are not limited to the values of the conventional device. The value may be a value, but here, for convenience of explanation, it is assumed that the value is the same as that of the conventional device.

The operation of a component newly added in the lightning case search apparatus according to the first embodiment will be described below. The user designates a point on the image to be searched (hereinafter, referred to as a search point) while viewing the echo intensity image or the lightning risk image displayed on the image display unit 9. This designation is performed by using the mouse device of the search point designation operation unit 12 and by the user clicking a desired point on the image. The designation can be made in any of the echo intensity image and the lightning risk image. The search point data setting unit 11 reads the time of the image for which the user has specified the search point and the coordinates of the search point on the 200 × 200 mesh as described above.

For example, FIG. 6 shows an example of specifying a search point. In this case, an image is displayed on December 15, 1997.
Since the search point P is a point of 50 mesh in the horizontal direction and 75 mesh in the vertical direction from the lower left of the image, the search point P is 15:10 on December 15, 1997. Let (50, 75) be the coordinates of the search point. Further, the search point data setting unit 11 sets the time of the search point,
The lightning determination element data from the lightning determination element calculation unit 4 corresponding to the coordinates is added to the time and coordinate data, and sent to the search processing unit 13. For example, in the example of FIG. 6, the lightning determination element calculated for each plane mesh section is F
If the data is three data of 1, F2 and F3, data as shown in FIG.

In the lightning case search apparatus according to the first embodiment, the user can specify a search point on the image not only on one point but also on a plurality of points on the image. it can. The search point data setting unit 11 sets the coordinates and the data of the lightning determination element for all the search points specified by the user, and sends them to the search processing unit 13.

In the lightning case search device of the present invention,
An object of the present invention is to search for and display an image of a past case using data in a format in which coordinates and the value of a lightning determination element are combined as in the data of FIG. 7 as a search key. Therefore, in this embodiment, data in the format of FIG. 7 is referred to as search key data. In the search key database 12,
The above-mentioned search key data for past weather cases useful for lightning prediction is accumulated by data prepared in advance.

Next, the search processing unit 13 compares M sets of past search key data similar to these data with respect to the search key data of the M search points specified by the user in the search key database. Search from. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating the concept of a search in the search processing unit 13 according to the first embodiment. In FIG. 8, P _i (i = 1,..., M) is M search points specified by the user, and Q _i (i = 1,.
., M) are points representing M sets of search key data of past cases selected from the search key database 12 for this search processing.

The conditions for selecting the above Q _i (i = 1,..., M) from the search key database 12 are as follows. First, all M data of Q _i (i = 1,..., M) are data at the same time. Each Q _i is data having coordinate values in an L × L mesh centered on the position of the corresponding search point P _i . However, if a plurality of data in the L × L mesh exist in the search key database for each i = 1,..., M, the value of the lightning determination element data is the value of the search point P _i Is selected as Qi. For example,
8, 'if there was, Q _i and Q _i' Q _i the same time another data Q _i on the data in L × L within the mesh A of lightning determined element data of the P _i for each of the Is calculated, and the data having the larger similarity is selected. At this time, the similarity of the lightning determination element data may be defined and calculated by the following equation, for example.

[0023]

(Equation 1)

[0024] _{Here, S (P i, Q i} ) the similarity F _j is lightning determining element of P _i and Q _i R _j is lightning determination factor F _j of normalization constants w _j is lightning decision element Weighting factor of F _j

According to the above conditions, M data sets Q _i
When selecting (i = 1,..., M) from the search key database, generally, there can be a plurality of selection methods. That is, these sets have different time data. Similar the retrieval processing unit 13, each set Q _i which singled out (i = 1, ···, M ) with respect to, M-number of search points _{P i (i = 1, ···} , M) and Calculate the degree. This similarity is calculated, for example, as follows. That is, first, the similarity of the lightning determination element data of P _i and Q _i is calculated according to the above equation for each i, and then the average value of the M similarities is calculated to obtain the integrated similarity. Is calculated. This integrated similarity is calculated as a search point P of Q _i (i = 1,..., M).
_i (i = 1,..., M). In the search processing unit 13, the calculated similarity is
A set Q _i exceeding a preset reference value (i = 1,...,
Only M) is set as the final search processing result, and the time data and similarity value of this set are sent to the search result display unit 14 as case data of the search result.

The search result display section 14 receives the above search result case data from the search processing section 13 and, as shown in the example of FIG. The user can select an arbitrary search result case using the case selection operation unit 15 while viewing the list display. When this selection is made, the search result display unit 14 sends the time data of the selected case to the image reading unit 16. The image reading unit 16 uses the time of the selected case as a starting point from the image database 17 and thereafter sequentially sends, for example, an echo intensity image or a lightning risk image up to about one hour ahead to the search result display unit 14. . The image database 17 stores the echo intensity image and the lightning risk image up to about one hour ahead every five minutes starting from the time of each search key data in the search key database 12. It is assumed that Search result display section 14
In this case, the user can select either the echo intensity image or the lightning risk image, and sequentially display the images in chronological order.

In the above description, a case has been described in which case data prepared in advance is stored in the search key database 12 and the image database 17, however, the lightning case search apparatus of the present invention starts operation. It is also possible to add case data obtained later to the above two databases and accumulate them. Case data storage operation unit 18
Are components for accumulating such case data. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a detailed configuration of the case data storage operation unit 18 according to the present embodiment. The case data storage operation unit 18 determines whether the current case is stored in the search key database 12 and the image database 17. When the storage operation is switched on by the storage operation switching operation unit 21 and the storage operation switching operation unit 21, the operation of writing the search key data for all the current points to the search key database 12 is started. When the storage operation is turned off, the search key data storage unit 19 for stopping the writing operation is performed. When the storage operation is turned on by the storage operation switching operation unit 21, the current echo intensity image and the lightning risk are displayed. When the operation of writing the image data of the image into the image database 17 is started and the accumulation operation is turned off, the above-described writing operation is continued for a predetermined time thereafter. It is constituted by the image data storage unit 20 to stop after.

In FIG. 2, the user uses the storage operation switching operation section 21 to select whether or not to store the current case data. For example, the user can obtain the current echo intensity image and the lightning risk image displayed on the image display 9,
If it is determined that the current weather case is useful as a lightning case for later retrieval, it can be chosen to save this case in a database. Storage operation switching operation unit 2
In step 1, when the case data storage function is selected to be turned on, a signal is transmitted to the search key data storage 19 and the image data storage 20 to instruct the storage of the case data. Upon receiving the storage start command signal, the search key data storage 19 sends a lightning determination element calculation unit 4
After inputting 200 × 200 mesh lightning judgment element data and converting them all into search key data in the format of FIG. 7, the search key data is stored in the search key database 12.
Write to. In the image data storage 20, the echo intensity image and the lightning risk image are input from the image generator 8 and written into the image database 17. The above-mentioned writing operation by the search key data storage 19 and the image data storage 20 is performed once the storage start command signal is received from the storage operation switching operation unit 21, and thereafter, every five minutes which is the observation cycle of the weather radar device. It is executed repeatedly.

On the other hand, in the storage operation switching operation section 21,
When the case data storage function is selected to be turned off, a signal is sent to the search key data storage 19 and the image data storage 20 to instruct the storage of the case data to be stopped. Upon receiving the storage stop command signal, the search key data storage 19 immediately stops the writing operation to the search key database 12. Further, the image data accumulator 19 receives 1
After the writing operation of the image data is continued until about a time ahead, this operation is stopped. (However, if an accumulation start command signal is received again during this time, the writing operation is continued for about one hour from the time point.)

As described above, according to the lightning case search apparatus of the first embodiment, the coordinates of a plurality of search points designated by the user on the current image and the lightning judgment elements of the past case are similar. Since the search key data can be searched from the search key database, it is possible to search for past weather cases in which the lightning determination element data is similar at each of the positions similar to the plurality of specified search points. it can.

Further, according to the lightning case search apparatus of the first embodiment, based on the time information of the searched past case,
Since the echo intensity image or the lightning risk image up to about one hour ahead in the past case can be read from the image database and displayed, the user can use the displayed past case image with the static direction finder. By referring to the information as to whether or not there is a lightning point observation result, it is possible to make a highly accurate prediction determination as to whether or not there is a possibility of lightning at a future time in the current situation.

Further, according to the lightning case search apparatus of the first embodiment, the current search key data of all the plane meshes is stored in the search key database at any time by the switching operation of the user, and the stored search key is stored. Since the image data up to about one hour from the time of the data can be stored in the image database starting from the time of the data, only when it is determined that the current weather situation is a useful case worth referring to later. In addition, data for search processing can be stored in a search key database and an image database.

The lightning case search apparatus according to the first embodiment is not limited to the above-described configuration. For example, in order to obtain a lightning judgment element, not only a weather radar apparatus but also other various It is needless to say that a device capable of performing a search with higher accuracy can be obtained by using the observation information from the weather observation device together.

Embodiment 2 FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram showing a lightning case search device according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. 3, the same parts as those in the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted. As a new code, 31 is a lightning determination element memory that stores the past N lightning determination element data calculated by the lightning determination element calculation unit 4, and 30 is an echo intensity image generated by the image generation unit 8. And an image memory for storing the image data of the past N images of the lightning risk image. The image display unit 9 stores the past N echo intensity images or lightning risk images stored in the image memory 30. Are displayed, and the search point designation operating unit 10 displays the M (M ≦ N) time-series echo intensity images or M (M ≦ N) sequentially displayed on the image display unit 9.
One search point is specified on each of the (M ≦ N) time-series lightning risk images, and the search point data setting unit 11 determines a time for each of the M search points specified in the time series. The search processing unit 13 sets the search key data including the coordinates and the values of the lightning determination elements, and the search processing unit 13 has the same time intervals as the M time-series search points specified on the image, and corresponds to each of the search points. A search key data set having a similar coordinate value and a lightning judgment element value is searched from the search key database 12, and a similarity of the search key data set to the search point is calculated. .

The observation cycle and observation range of the weather radar apparatus 1, the size of one mesh section for analyzing the echo data, the number of meshes, and the like are not limited to the values of the conventional apparatus, but may be any values. Here, for convenience of explanation, it is assumed that the value is the same as that of the conventional device.

Next, the operation of a newly added component in the lightning case search apparatus according to the second embodiment will be described. The echo intensity image and the lightning risk image generated by the image generator 8 are written in the image memory 30. Image memory 3
In 0, the past N images obtained every 5 minutes of the observation cycle of the weather radar device are stored for each of the echo intensity image and the lightning risk image. The image display unit 9 allows the user to designate and display any of the N images of the echo intensity image and the lightning risk image. Also,
The data of the lightning determination element calculated by the lightning determination element calculation unit 4 is written to the lightning determination element memory 31. The lightning determination element memory 31 stores 5 images corresponding to the N images.
The calculation results of the lightning determination element data for the past N times for each minute are stored.

Next, the user displays any of the N echo intensity images or the N lightning risk images on the image display unit 9 and performs a search while viewing these images. A point on the image (hereinafter referred to as a search point) is specified. This designation uses the mouse device of the search point designation operation unit 10,
This is performed by the user clicking a desired point on the image. The designation can be made in any of the echo intensity image and the lightning risk image. Search point data setting unit 1
In step 1, as described above, the time of the image for which the user has designated the search point and the coordinates of the search point on the 200 × 200 mesh are read.

For example, in the case of the example of FIG.
Since the search point P is a point of 50 mesh in the horizontal direction and 75 mesh in the vertical direction from the lower left of the image, the search point P is 15:15 on December 15, 1997.
0 minute is the time of the search point, and (50, 75) is the coordinate of the search point. Further, the search point data setting unit 11 reads out the lightning determination element data corresponding to the time and coordinates of the search point from the lightning determination element memory 31 and converts the lightning determination element data into the data of the time and coordinates. Attach and search processing unit 1
Send to 3. For example, in the example of FIG. 6, the lightning determination elements calculated for each plane mesh section are F1 and F1.
2 and F3, the search processing unit 13
Is sent out as shown in FIG.

In the lightning case search device of the second embodiment, the user specifies only one search point per image, while performing the operation of specifying the search point on the image. Not only one image, but also M time-series images arbitrarily selected from N echo intensity images, or M images arbitrarily selected from N lightning risk images This can be performed on time-series images. The number of images M is 1 ≦ M ≦ N
Can be arbitrarily selected by the user within the range. By specifying a search point on the M time-series images in this way, the user can perform a tracking operation for one thundercloud.

FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining an example of a thundercloud tracking operation by the user. In the example of FIG.
A case where a search point is specified in four time-series lightning risk images of 0 minutes before, 15 minutes before, and 30 minutes before is shown. In this manner, the images specifying the search points do not necessarily have to be at equal time intervals. In the figure, in each of the four images, the user clicks a characteristic point P (such as the center point of the thundercloud) of the thundercloud C with the mouse device of the search point designation operation unit 12 to track the same thundercloud. It can be performed. The search point data setting unit 11 sets the time, coordinates, and lightning determination element data for all of the M search points specified by the M images, and sends them to the search processing unit 13.

The data in the format shown in FIG. 7 is referred to as search key data. The search key database 12 stores the above-mentioned search key data for past weather cases useful for lightning prediction as data prepared in advance.

In the search processing unit 13, the search key data of the M search points specified by the user on the M time-series images is compared with the M search key data of the past search key data similar to these data. Search the set from the search key database. FIG. 11 shows the concept of a search in the search processing unit 13. In FIG. 11, P _i (i = 1,...,
M) is a point sequence of M search points specified by the user, and i = 1,..., M in order from the newest time. Q _i (i = 1,..., M) is a point sequence representing M sets of search key data of past cases selected from the search key database 12 for this search processing. Similarly, i = 1,
.., M.

The conditions for selecting the above Q _i (i = 1,..., M) from the search key database 12 are as follows. First, Q _i and Q _{i + 1} (i = 1,..., M−
Each time interval of 1) is corresponding to P _i and P
It is assumed that the data is equal to the time interval of _{i + 1} (i = 1,..., M−1). Also, each Q _i is a corresponding P
It is assumed that the data has coordinate values in an L × L mesh centered on the position of _i . Where i = 1,..., M
In the case where there are a plurality of data at the same time in the L × L mesh in the search key database, the data in which the value of the lightning judgment element data is most similar to the value of the search point P _i is defined as Q _i Select as For example, lightning determination of 11, 'if there was, Q _i and Q _i' Q _i and L × with data of the same time L Mesh another data Q _i to the range A for each of the P _i The similarity of the element data is calculated, and the data having the greater similarity is selected. At this time, the similarity of the lightning determination element data can be calculated by, for example, the above-described formula.

According to the above conditions, the point sequence Q _i (i = 1,.
.., M) from the search key database, generally, a plurality of selection methods are possible. These dot sequences have different time zones. In the search processing unit 13, each of the selected point sequences Q _i (i = 1,.
.., M), the point sequence P _{i of} search points (i = 1,.
, M) is calculated as follows, for example. That is, first, the similarity of the lightning determination element data of P _i and Q _i is calculated according to the above equation for each i, and then the average value of the M similarities is calculated to obtain the integrated similarity. Is calculated. This integrated similarity is represented by a point sequence P _i (i = 1,...,
M) and the point sequence Q _i (i = 1,..., M). In the search processing unit 13, the point sequence Q _i in which the calculated similarity between the point sequences exceeds a predetermined reference value.
(I = 1,..., M) as the final search processing result,
The time information of this point sequence (for example, point sequence Q _i (i = 1,...)
-, most time is the time data) and searches the similarity value results case data for the new Q ₁ in M), and sends the search result display unit.

Hereinafter, the operations of the search result display unit 14, the case selection operation unit 15, the image reading unit 16, and the image database 17 are the same as those of the lightning case search device of the first embodiment. Further, in the lightning case search device of the second embodiment, similar to the case of the lightning case search device of the first embodiment,
Case data obtained after the start of operation can be added to two databases, the search key database 12 and the image database 17, and accumulated. The case data accumulation operation unit 18 is a component for accumulating such case data, and its detailed configuration and operation are the same as those described in the first embodiment.

As described above, according to the lightning case search apparatus of the second embodiment, the time intervals and coordinates of a plurality of search points specified by the user on a time-series image and the lightning determination element are similar. Since the search key data of the past case can be searched from the search key database, the lightning determination element data is similar at each point where the moving path and the moving speed are similar to the designated time-series search point. Past weather cases can be searched.

Further, according to the lightning case search apparatus of the second embodiment, based on the time information of the searched past case,
Since the echo intensity image or the lightning risk image up to about one hour ahead in the past case can be read from the image database and displayed, the user can use the displayed past case image with the static direction finder. By referring to the information as to whether or not there is a lightning point observation result, it is possible to make a highly accurate prediction determination as to whether or not there is a possibility of lightning at a future time in the current situation.

Furthermore, according to the lightning case search apparatus of the second embodiment, the current search key data of all the plane meshes is stored in the search key database at any time by the user's switching operation, and the stored search key is stored. Since the image data can be stored in the image database up to about one hour from the time of the data as a starting point, when the user determines that the current weather situation is a useful case worth referring to later. Only the data for the search processing can be stored in the search key database and the image database.

The lightning case search device according to the second embodiment is not limited to the configuration described above. For example, in order to obtain a lightning judgment element, not only a weather radar device but also various other devices are used. It is needless to say that a device that can perform a search with higher accuracy can be obtained by using the observation information from the weather observation device together.

Embodiment 3 FIG. 4 is a diagram showing another configuration of the case data accumulation operation unit 18 in the lightning case search apparatuses according to the first and second embodiments of the present invention.
In FIG. 4, when there is a point whose lightning risk is equal to or more than a reference value, the case data storage operation unit 18 of the third embodiment stores the search key data corresponding to the coordinates of the point in the search key database. When there is a point where the lightning risk is equal to or higher than the reference value, the search key data storage 19 writes the image data of the echo intensity image and the lightning risk image to the image database for a predetermined time thereafter. Is continued, the writing operation is stopped, the image data accumulator 20 determines whether there is a point where the lightning risk is equal to or more than the reference value, and if the point exists, the coordinates of the point It comprises a stored data selector 22 for extracting values.

The operation of the case data storage operation unit 18 according to the third embodiment will be described below. In FIG. 4, the lightning risk calculating unit 5 sends lightning risk data of 200 × 200 mesh to the stored data selector 22. The stored data selector 22 examines the input lightning risk data for each mesh, determines whether there is a mesh section whose lightning risk value exceeds a preset reference value, and then determines whether there is a mesh classification. If a section exists (a plurality of sections may exist), the coordinate values of the mesh section are stored in the search key data storage 1.
Send to 9. Further, a signal for instructing to store the image data is sent to the image data storage 20.

The search key data storage unit 19 receives lightning determination element data of 200 × 200 mesh from the lightning determination element calculation unit 4 and receives lightning corresponding to the coordinates of each mesh section input from the stored data selector 22. After extracting the judgment elements, these are converted into search key data in the format of FIG. When receiving the image data storage command signal from the storage data selector 22, the image data storage 20 receives the echo intensity image and the lightning risk from the image generator 8 for about one hour thereafter. After continuing the operation of inputting the image and writing the image data into the image database 17, the operation is terminated. (However, if an accumulation start command signal is received again during this time, the above-described writing operation is continued for about one hour from that point.)

As described above, according to the case data storage operation unit 18 of the third embodiment, only when a mesh whose lightning risk exceeds a predetermined reference value appears, the search key data of that mesh can be obtained. Can be stored in the search key database, and the image data up to one hour ahead from the time of the stored search key data can be stored in the image database. Data for search processing can be automatically saved only when the value is high, and only at points where the possibility of lightning is high. Therefore, the data capacity of the database can be saved.

Embodiment 4 FIG. 5 is a diagram showing another configuration of the case data accumulation operation unit 18 in the lightning case search apparatuses according to the first and second embodiments of the present invention.
In FIG. 5, the case data storage operation unit 18 according to the fourth embodiment is configured such that when a search point designating operation is performed, search key data corresponding to the coordinates of the search point is written to the search key database 12. When an operation of designating a search point is performed with the data storage 24, an operation of writing image data of an echo intensity image and a lightning risk image to the image database 17 is performed for a predetermined period of time, and then the writing operation is performed. Is stopped by the image data accumulator 23.

Hereinafter, the operation of the case data storage operation unit 18 according to the fourth embodiment will be described. In the figure, when a search point setting operation is performed by the user, the search point data setting unit 11 sends the search key data set in the format of FIG. 7 to the search key data storage 24 of the case data storage operation unit 18. Further, a signal instructing to store the image data is sent to the image data storage 23.

The search key data storage 24 writes the sent search key data into the search key database 12 as it is. Further, when receiving the image data accumulation command signal from the search point data setting unit 11, the image data accumulator 23 receives the echo intensity image and the lightning risk from the image generation unit 8 for about one hour thereafter. After continuing the operation of inputting the image and writing the image data into the image database 17, the operation is terminated. (However, if an accumulation start command signal is received again during this time, the above-described writing operation is continued for about one hour from that point.)

As described above, according to the case data storage operation unit 18 of the fourth embodiment, only when the user performs the operation of specifying the search point for the search processing, the search of the mesh of the search point is performed. Since the key data can be stored in the search key database and the image data up to one hour ahead from the time of the stored search key data can be stored in the image database, the user can perform the search processing. Automatically retrieves data only in situations where there is a high probability of lightning, such as when needed, and only in meteorologically distinctive points, such as those selected by the user as search points. Can be saved. Therefore, the data capacity of the database can be saved.

[0058]

As described above, according to the lightning case search apparatus of the present invention, the user is provided with a function of displaying past lightning cloud cases similar to the current thundercloud weather condition, so that the user can display the current lightning cloud case. Since the search key data of past cases in which the coordinates of multiple search points specified on the image and the lightning judgment element are similar can be searched from the search key database, the arrangement is similar to the specified search points. It is possible to search past weather cases with similar lightning judgment factor data at each point, and predict and judge the possibility of lightning at a future time by referring to whether or not there was an actual lightning strike Can be.

Further, the search key data of the past case in which the time intervals, the coordinates, and the lightning judgment elements of the plurality of search points specified by the user on the time-series image are similar can be searched from the search key database. Therefore, it is possible to search for past weather cases in which the lightning determination element data is similar at each point where the moving route and the moving speed are similar to the specified time-series search points.

The user's switching operation saves the current search key data of all the plane meshes in the search key database at any time, and uses the saved search keyboard time as a starting point to display image data up to a predetermined time later. Since the data can be stored in the database, the data capacity of the database can be saved.

Only when a mesh whose lightning risk exceeds a predetermined reference value appears, the search key data of the mesh is stored in the search key database, and the time of the stored search key data is used as a starting point. Since the image data up to about one hour ahead can be stored in the image database, only when the current weather condition has a high possibility of lightning, or only at a point where the possibility of lightning is high , Can automatically save data for search processing. Therefore, the data capacity of the database can be saved.

Further, only when the user performs an operation of specifying a search point for a search process, the search key data of the mesh of the search point is stored in the search key database, and the time of the stored search key data is saved. Can be stored in the image database up to about one hour ahead from the starting point. Therefore, only in a case where there is a high possibility of lightning that requires the user to perform a search process, The data for the search process can be automatically saved only at a meteorologically distinctive point selected by the user as a search point. Therefore, the data capacity of the database can be saved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a lightning case search device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a view showing a first embodiment and a second embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram showing a case data accumulation operation unit in the lightning case search device according to FIG.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram illustrating a lightning case search device according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram showing a case data accumulation operation unit according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram showing a case data accumulation operation unit according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of an example of specifying a search point.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a search key data format.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of a search concept in the lightning case search device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of a search result display example.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of a thundercloud tracking operation in the lightning case search device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of a search concept in a lightning case search device according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a configuration diagram showing a conventional device.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the location of a lightning strike position by the resection method.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an echo intensity image and a lightning risk image.

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference Signs List 1 weather radar device, 2 radar echo analysis unit, 3 high-level weather information input device, 4 lightning judgment element calculation unit, 5 lightning risk calculation unit, 6 static direction detection device, 7 lightning point location unit, 8 images Generation unit, 9 image display unit, 10 search point designation operation unit, 11 search point data setting unit, 12 search key database, 13 search processing unit, 14 search result display unit, 15 case selection operation unit, 16 image reading unit, 1
7 image database, 18 case data storage operation unit,
19 search key data storage unit, 20 image data storage unit, 21 storage operation switching operation unit, 22 storage data selection unit, 23 image data storage unit, 24 search key data storage unit, 30 image memory, 31 lightning judgment element memory .

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FIG06F 15/403 350C (72) Inventor Yoshio Kosuge 2-3-2 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Mitsubishi Electric Corporation (56) Reference Document JP-A-11-160428 (JP, A) JP-A-10-268064 (JP, A) JP-A-9-329672 (JP, A) JP-A-9-72965 (JP, A) 151866 (JP, A) JP-A-2-103488 (JP, A) JP-A-7-110379 (JP, A) JP-A 8-122433 (JP, A) JP-A-1-321393 (JP, A) Wakase Kise, Masayoshi Kei, Gaito, Lightning Prediction Prediction by Case Search Using Multiple Sensor Data, IEICE Journal, Japan, IEICE, B Vol. J 83-B No. 11, 1598-1607 (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G06F 17/30 G01W 1/10 G01S 13/95

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] A meteorological radar device for periodically observing echo information of a cloud; a three-dimensional echo intensity spatial distribution and
A radar echo analysis unit that converts a three-dimensional echo intensity plane distribution, a high-level weather information input device that inputs high-level weather information, and a lightning risk determination for each point based on the echo intensity spatial distribution and the high-level weather information A lightning judgment element calculation unit for calculating lightning judgment element data as a material; a lightning risk calculation unit for calculating a lightning risk at each point based on the lightning judgment element data; A plurality of static direction detectors for azimuth measurement of radio waves; a lightning point locator for locating a lightning position based on the direction measurement results of the plurality of static direction detectors; An image generation unit that generates echo intensity image data in which a lightning position is superimposed and lightning risk image data in which the lightning position is superimposed on the two-dimensional distribution of lightning risk, the echo intensity image or the lightning Degree of risk An image display unit for displaying an image, a search point designation operation unit for designating a plurality of search points on the echo intensity image or the lightning risk image displayed on the image display unit, and a plurality of the designated search points A search point data setting unit for setting search key data composed of a time, a coordinate, and a value of a lightning judgment element for each of the above; and a search key for storing the above search key data obtained for past weather cases in advance. A database and a set of search key data at the same time and having the same coordinate value and lightning judgment element value as the plurality of specified search points, are searched from the search key database; and the search of the set of search key data is performed. A search processing unit for calculating a similarity to a point; and displaying, as a search result example, time information and a similarity of a set of the searched search key data in which the similarity is equal to or greater than a reference value. A search result display unit, a case selection operation unit capable of selecting an arbitrary case from the displayed search result cases, and an image taken of a past weather case of the echo intensity image and the lightning risk image. An image database to be stored, and an image to read out the echo intensity image or the lightning risk image from the image database up to a predetermined time after the occurrence time of the search result case selected by the case selection operation unit. A reading unit, and adding and accumulating the search key data taken after the start of operation of the device in the search key database, and storing the echo intensity image and the lightning risk image taken after the start of operation of the device. A lightning case search device, comprising: a case data storage operation unit for storing data in addition to the image database. 2. A lightning determination element memory for storing past N lightning determination element data calculated by the lightning determination element calculation unit, an echo intensity image generated by the image generation unit, and lightning And an image memory for storing image data of the past N images of the risk level image, wherein the image display unit is configured to output the image data of the past N echo intensity images or lightning risk level images stored in the image memory. The arbitrarily selected image is displayed, and the search point designation operation unit displays the M (M ≦ N) time-series echo intensity images or the M (M ≦ N) images sequentially displayed on the image display unit. The search point data setting unit specifies one search point on each of the series of lightning risk images,
For each of the M search points specified in the time series, search key data including time, coordinates, and the value of a lightning determination element is set, and the search processing unit sets the M specified in the image.
A set of search key data having the same time interval as the search points of the time series and having a similar coordinate value and a corresponding lightning determination element value with the corresponding search point is searched from the search key database. The lightning case search apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the similarity of the set of the search points to the search points is calculated. 3. The storage device according to claim 1, wherein the storage unit is configured to switch whether or not a current case is stored in the search key database and the image database. When the operation is turned on, the operation of writing the search key data for all current points to the search key database is started,
When the accumulation operation is turned off, the search key data accumulator for stopping the writing operation, and when the accumulation operation is turned on by the accumulation operation switching operation unit, the current echo intensity image and the lightning risk are displayed. When the operation of writing the image data of the image to the image database is started and the storage operation is turned off, the image storage device data is stopped after continuing the writing operation for a predetermined time thereafter. Item 3. The lightning case search device according to item 1 or 2. 4. The case data storage operation unit determines whether there is a point where the lightning risk is equal to or more than a reference value, and extracts the coordinate value of the point when the point exists. A search key data storage unit that writes the search key data corresponding to the coordinates of the point to the search key database when there is a point where the lightning risk is equal to or greater than a reference value; When there is a point where the lightning risk is equal to or more than the reference value, after continuing the operation of writing the image data of the echo intensity image and the lightning risk image to the image database for a predetermined time, the writing operation is performed. The lightning case search device according to claim 1, further comprising a stopped image data storage device. 5. A search key data storage unit for writing the search key data corresponding to the coordinates of the search point to the search key database when the operation of designating the search point is performed. When the operation of designating the search point is performed, after performing the operation of writing the image data of the echo intensity image and the lightning risk image to the image database for a predetermined time, the writing operation is stopped. The lightning case search device according to claim 1, wherein the lightning case search device is configured by an image data storage device.