RU2138063C1 - Method of single-point range-finding of sources of atmospherics - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: radio engineering, range finding of sources of electromagnetic radiation, meteorology and civil aviation for timely location of thunderstorms. SUBSTANCE: electromagnetic signal of lightning discharge- atmospherics is received by rod antenna, amplified, filtered in wide band of frequencies and is tested for correspondence to each of N gradations of range Ln ( n=1-N ) up to lightning discharge. Output data of tests are compared by value and range corresponding to maximum output signal is assumed to be range to lightning discharge. EFFECT: increased range of action and accuracy of single-point range- finding of sources of atmospherics. 6 dwg

Description

 The invention relates to radio-frequency means of long-range electromagnetic radiation sources, in particular to methods and devices for passive long-range lightning discharges of cloud-to-ground light of predominantly vertical polarization, and can be used in meteorology and in civil aviation for operational lightning location at a distance of 300 - 2000 km.

A known method of single-point ranging lightning discharges, implemented in [1]. This method is based on the use of the dependence of the shape of the atmosphere on the signal in the source, and on the distance to the source and consists in receiving the atmosphere on a vertical electric antenna, amplifying it, filtering it in a wide frequency band and sampling in time, storing the received signal and check it for compliance with each of the N predetermined gradations of the range L _n (n = 1 - N) to the lightning discharge, for this the atmosphere is processed N-times in parallel, at each n-th processing they form a residual D _n ^* between the atmosphere and the signal obtained during the passage of a previously unknown radiated signal of the propagation path of length L _n with the known pulse transition function of propagation (the function of converting a short pulse signal during the propagation path), determine the signal in the source that minimizes the value of D _n ^* with the formation of the value of D _n D _n from the received form inversely proportional value P _n = 1 / D _n, storing them, is compared in magnitude, are processed with maximum P _n and the corresponding range taken as the range to the lightning discharge.

 The disadvantage of this method is the high complexity of the calculations associated with the determination in each processing channel simultaneously with the range to the source also the optimal waveform in the source.

Closest to the claimed technical solution, adopted as a prototype, is a one-point method for determining the distance to lightning discharges, implemented in [2]. This method is based on the representation of the atmosphere as a combination of a terrestrial signal and a spatial (consisting of several ionospheric) signal and the use of the dependences of the time intervals and the amplitude ratio between each of the ionospheric and terrestrial signals of the atmosphere from the distance to a lightning discharge and consists in the following: 1) they accept the atmosphere containing terrestrial and one or more ionospheric signals to a vertical electric antenna, 2) amplify the received atmosphere, 3) filter it in a wide frequency band, 4) discrete are timed in increments of Δt on a predetermined time interval T1, 5) remember the signal Z _i obtained in this case (i = 1 - I1, where I1 = T1 / Δt) and 6) check it for compliance with each of the N preset range gradations L _n (n = 1 - N) before a lightning discharge, for this, at each nth processing 7), the expected spatial signal is compensated in the atmosphere using an earth signal using the time intervals expected at a range of L _n and the amplitude ratio between each of the ionospheric and earth signals, 8) determine the energy D _n uncompensated of the remaining spatial signal at a predetermined time interval, 9) form the output signal P _n = 1 / D _n inversely proportional to the received signal, and 10) store it, while 11) the output signals obtained during N processing are compared with each other in magnitude and processing with a maximum output signal is determined, 12) the corresponding range is taken as the distance to a lightning discharge.

 The disadvantage of this method is the error of ranging due to the difference in the forms of ionospheric and terrestrial signals in the atmosphere due to the difference in the conditions of their propagation and leading to incomplete compensation of the spatial signal of the atmosphere in the processing channel corresponding to the true range to a lightning discharge.

 The aim of the present invention is to increase the range and accuracy of single-point ranging of atmospheric sources through the use for each propagation path of the previously known impulse function of the transition from the terrestrial and spatial signal and conversion using the specified function of the terrestrial signal in the atmosphere into a signal that is used to compensate for the expected spatial signal.

где h_n,i - заранее известная импульсная функция перехода от земного сигнала S_n,i к пространственному сигналу U_n,i при дальности L_n до источника атмосферика

определяемая соотношением

где G_n0(j2πΔfm) и G_np(j2πΔfm) - заранее известные комплексные коэффициенты передачи трасс распространения соответственно земного и пространственного сигналов, Δf - шаг по частоте, F - максимальная частота спектра анализируемого атмосферика,

Новым в предложенном способе дальнометрии по сравнению с прототипом является использование при каждой n-ой обработке атмосферика для образования компенсирующего сигнала Q_n,i заранее известной импульсной функции h_n,i перехода от земного к пространственному сигналу.This goal is achieved by the fact that in the known method of single-point determination of the distance to a lightning discharge, turning off the reception of the atmosphere Z (t), containing terrestrial and spatial signals, to a vertical electric antenna, amplification of the received atmosphere, filtering it in the required wide frequency band and time sampling with a step Δt on a predetermined time interval T1, storing the signal Z _i obtained in this case (i = 1 - I1, where I1 = T1 / Δt) and checking it for compliance with each of N preset gradations d of the range L _n (n = 1 - N) to the lightning discharge, for this an N-fold parallel processing of the atmosphere, including during each nth processing compensation in the atmosphere of the expected spatial signal using the earth signal of the same atmosphere by generating a feedback signal Q _{n , i} and subtracting it from the signal Z _i , and the resulting differential signal W _{n, i} used to generate the signal Q _{n, i} , calculating the energy D _{n of the} signal W _{n, i} over a predetermined time interval i = I0 - I1 (I0 = T0 / Δt, where T0 is the expected duration of the Earth sig ala), the output signal formation processing P _n = 1 / D _n, is inversely proportional to the received energy, and storing, comparing the obtained values P _{n (n} = 1 - N) in size, processing to find a maximum P _n and distance to the source as the range corresponding to the processing according to the invention, for each n-th atmospheric treatment, the compensating signal Q _{n, i} (i = 1 - I1) is formed from the signal W _{n, i} according to the rule

where h _{n, i} is the previously known pulse function of the transition from the terrestrial signal S _{n, i} to the spatial signal U _{n, i} at a distance of L _n to the atmospheric source

determined by the relation

where G _n0 (j2πΔfm) and G _np (j2πΔfm) are the previously known complex transmission coefficients of the propagation paths of terrestrial and spatial signals, respectively, Δf is the frequency step, F is the maximum frequency of the spectrum of the analyzed atmosphere,

New in the proposed method of ranging compared to the prototype is the use of an atmosphere at each nth processing to form a compensating signal Q _{n, i of the} previously known impulse function h _{n, i of the} transition from terrestrial to spatial signal.

 In FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a single-point ranging device, where it is indicated: 1 — an electric antenna, 2 — an amplifier, 3 — a filter, 4 — a first delay block, 5 — an analog-to-digital converter, 6 — a first memory block, 7 — a threshold block, 8 - the second delay unit, 9 - the first one-shot, 10 - the clock generator, 11 - 13 - N processing channels, 14 - block determining the processing channel with the maximum output signal.

 In FIG. 2 is a block diagram of one processing channel, where it is indicated: 15 — subtraction block, 16 — quadrator, 17 — accumulation block, 18 — reciprocal value calculation block, 19 — second memory block, 20 — calculator, 21 — read-only memory block, 22 - the third memory block, 23 - the second one-shot.

In FIG. Figure 3 shows examples of the impulse functions h _n (t) of the transition from the terrestrial to a spatial signal under night propagation conditions and ranges a) L = 500 km and b) L = 1000 km.

In FIG. Figure 4 presents a) the normalized calculated shape of the night atmospheric Z (t) at a distance L = 500 km from the radiator (given in [3], Fig. 1.4.7.c) and b) the dependence of the inverse residual P (L) on L (obtained from P _n = P (L _n when connecting adjacent points by a continuous line) calculated for this atmosphere using the proposed method. As follows from FIG. 4b), the resulting range estimate is close to the original range to the source.

где R= 6370 км - радиус Земли, H - высота нижней отражающей границы ионосферы (днем H=70 км, ночью H=90 км), c=3•10⁵ км/с - скорость распространения электромагнитного сигнала. При этом используется ограниченность по времени существования молниевого разряда, что приводит к ограниченной длительности T0 земного сигнала (практически T0≤120 мкс).The essence of the proposed ranging method is based on the multipath propagation of the atmosphere in the earth – ionosphere waveguide channel [3], in which the atmosphere Z (t) is described as the sum of the earth signal S (t) propagating along the earth’s surface and the spatial signal U (t) containing one or several signals reflected from the ionosphere, which propagate along several paths: reflected once from the ionosphere - the first ionosphere signal reflected from the ionosphere, then from the earth and again from the ionosphere - the second ionosphere ny signal, etc. and has the form
Z (t) = S (t) + U (t). (4)
The delay in the beginning of the spatial signal relative to the beginning of the earth signal is equal to the delay in the arrival of the first ionospheric signal relative to the earth signal

where R = 6370 km is the radius of the Earth, H is the height of the lower reflecting boundary of the ionosphere (during the day H = 70 km, at night H = 90 km), c = 3 • 10 ⁵ km / s is the speed of propagation of the electromagnetic signal. In this case, the limited time of the existence of a lightning discharge is used, which leads to a limited duration T0 of the earth signal (practically T0≤120 μs).

с использованием заранее известной импульсной функции h_n(t) перехода от земного сигнала к пространственному сигналу (сами эти сигналы заранее неизвестны) при распространении по трассе длиной L_n. При этом h_n(t) определяется соотношением

и зависит от длины трассы (h_n(t)=0 и U_n(t)=0 при t < τ_n, где τ_n - задержка прихода первого ионосферного сигнала относительно земного сигнала при дальности L_n до источника (5)).According to the proposed method, as in the prototype, the range L to the lightning discharge is determined by the shape of the atmosphere Z (t) by checking for compliance with each of the N predetermined gradations of the range L _n (n = 1 - N) to the source, for which the atmosphere is N it is processed several times in parallel, with each n-th processing in the atmosphere being analyzed, the expected spatial signal is compensated by an earth signal using a feedback cell containing a subtraction unit and a feedback circuit connecting the output of the subtraction unit I'm with his second entrance. According to the proposed method, the output signal of the feedback cell W _n (t) is converted in the feedback circuit into a compensating signal Q _n (t) according to the rule

using the previously known impulse function h _n (t) of the transition from the terrestrial signal to a spatial signal (these signals themselves are not known in advance) during propagation along a path of length L _n . Moreover, h _n (t) is determined by the relation

and depends on the path length (h _n (t) = 0 and U _n (t) = 0 for t <τ _n , where τ _n is the delay in the arrival of the first ionospheric signal relative to the earth signal at a distance of L _n to the source (5)).

В канале обработки, настроенном на истинную дальность до источника излучения анализируемого атмосферика, соотношение (9) с учетом (7) выполняется при W_n(t)= S_n(t), откуда W_n(t)=0 при t>T0. Действие цепи обратной связи соответствует тому, что в каждый момент времени, начиная с t = τ_n (при t < τ_n сигнала на выходе цепи обратной связи еще нет: Q_n(t)=0 и W_n(t)=S_n(t)), из начальной части сигнала W_n(t) с помощью цепи обратной связи образуется сигнал Q_n(t), который, поступая на второй вход блока вычитания, компенсирует пространственный сигнал атмосферика U(t), оставляя на выходе блока вычитания только земной сигнал S(t).As a result of compensation, a signal W _n (t) is formed from the analyzed atmosphere
W _n (t) = Z (t) -Q _n (t). (eight)
Substituting the value Z (t) from (4) and Q _n (t) from (6) in the right-hand side of (8), we obtain the recurrence relation for W _n (t)

In the processing channel tuned to the true distance to the radiation source of the analyzed atmosphere, relation (9), taking into account (7), is fulfilled for W _n (t) = S _n (t), whence W _n (t) = 0 for t> T0. The action of the feedback circuit corresponds to the fact that at each moment of time, starting from t = τ _n (for t <τ _{n, there is no} signal at the output of the feedback circuit: Q _n (t) = 0 and W _n (t) = S _n (t)), from the initial part of the signal W _n (t), using the feedback circuit, a signal Q _n (t) is formed, which, entering the second input of the subtraction unit, compensates the spatial signal of the atmosphere U (t), leaving at the output of the subtraction block Earth signal S (t) only.

 In a channel tuned to a range other than the range to the analyzed atmosphere, a feedback signal is formed from the output of the subtraction unit, which differs from the spatial signal of the atmosphere, as a result of the compensation of the spatial signal of the atmosphere, the output signal does not apply at the output of the feedback cell to zero after the end of the earth signal.

Исключая в (10) спектр сигнала в источнике V(jω), получаем соотношение между спектрами пространственного и земного сигналов
U_n(jω) = S_n(jω)•G_np(jω)/G_n0(jω). (11)
При этом, осуществляя преобразование Фурье обеих частей соотношения (7), получаем спектр пространственного сигнала также в виде
V_n(jω) = S_n(jω)•K_n(jω), (12)
где K_n(jω) - спектр функции h_n(t). Сравнивая соотношения (11) и (12), получаем
K(jω) = G_пр(jω)/G_n0(jω), (13)
в результате функция h_n(t), связанная с K_n(jω) преобразованием Фурье, имеет вид

где F - максимальная частота пропускания входного фильтра (F=35 кГц). (Спектры пространственного и земного сигналов можно получить, используя, например, методы расчета, приведенные в [4]).The impulse function h _n (t) of the transition from the earth to the spatial signal during the n-th processing is calculated as follows. Denoting G _n0 (jω) and G _ave (jω) - pre-known transmission path coefficients of terrestrial and space signals at distance L _n to the source, S _n (jω) and U _n (jω) - unknown spectra respectively terrestrial and space signals, V (jω) is the unknown spectrum of the signal in the source, we obtain

Excluding in (10) the spectrum of the signal in the source V (jω), we obtain the relationship between the spectra of spatial and terrestrial signals
U _n (jω) = S _n (jω) • G _np (jω) / G _n0 (jω). (eleven)
At the same time, carrying out the Fourier transform of both parts of relation (7), we obtain the spectrum of the spatial signal also in the form
V _n (jω) = S _n (jω) • K _n (jω), (12)
where K _n (jω) is the spectrum of the function h _n (t). Comparing relations (11) and (12), we obtain
K (jω) = G _{ave (jω) / G n0 (jω} ), ( 13)
as a result, the function h _n (t) associated with the K _n (jω) Fourier transform has the form

where F is the maximum transmission frequency of the input filter (F = 35 kHz). (Spectra of spatial and terrestrial signals can be obtained using, for example, the calculation methods given in [4]).

где Δf - шаг по частоте (Δf=2 кГц).Moreover, in a time-discrete representation, the function h _n (t) is equal to

where Δf is the frequency step (Δf = 2 kHz).

обратно пропорциональная величина которого P_n=1/D_n является показателем соответствия анализируемого атмосферика дальности L_n до источника, а зависимость P_n от дальности L является решающей функцией - за дальность до источника принимается дальность, соответствующая каналу с максимальным выходным сигналом P_n.The resulting compensated atmospheric signal W _n (t) (7) is squared and integrated over the time interval T0 <t≤T1 that does not contain the earth signal, with the formation of the energy of the uncompensated residue D _n

the inversely proportional value of which P _n = 1 / D _n is an indicator of the correspondence of the analyzed atmosphere to the range L _n to the source, and the dependence of P _n on the range L is a decisive function - the range corresponding to the channel with the maximum output signal P _{n is} taken as the distance to the source.

The ranges L _n corresponding to adjacent treatments (L _{n + 1} > L _n ) are set such that their relative difference is ≈5%. Moreover, in the range of ranges 300 - 2000 km, the required number of processing channels is N≈35.

Как видно из приведенных на фиг. 3 а), б) графиков, импульсная переходная функция h(t) состоит из нескольких разнесенных по времени "всплесков", каждый из которых соответствует одному ионосферному сигналу при увеличении дальности до источника сокращаются интервалы времени между "всплесками" (из-за уменьшения разностей длин путей отдельных ионосферных лучей), увеличиваются амплитуды "всплесков" (из-за увеличения как коэффициентов отражения сигналов от иносферы, так и затухания земного сигнала) и изменяются формы "всплесков". Время обработки атмосферика устанавливается равным T1= 400 мкс, при этом во всем диапазоне дальностей обрабатываемой атмосферик содержит земной сигнал и не менее одного ионосферного сигнала (каждая из функций h_n(t) (n=1 - N) содержит на интервале 0 - T1 не менее одного "всплеска") для обеспечения зависимости h_n(t) от дальности до источника излучения.For processing on a computer, discretization of the signals outputting to the given ratios by time with a predetermined step Δt = 1 μs is performed, as a result, relation (6) goes to (1)

As can be seen from FIG. 3a), b) of the graphs, the pulse transition function h (t) consists of several “bursts” spaced apart in time, each of which corresponds to one ionospheric signal, while increasing the distance to the source, the time intervals between “bursts” are shortened (due to a decrease in the differences the path lengths of individual ionospheric rays), the amplitudes of the “bursts” increase (due to an increase in both the reflection coefficients of signals from the infosphere and the attenuation of the earth signal) and the shapes of the “bursts” change. The processing time of the atmosphere is set to T1 = 400 μs, while in the entire range of ranges of the processed atmosphere it contains a terrestrial signal and at least one ionospheric signal (each of the functions h _n (t) (n = 1 - N) contains in the interval 0 - T1 not less than one “burst”) to ensure the dependence of h _n (t) on the distance to the radiation source.

 Referring to FIG. 4 a) the shape of the night atmosphere Z (t) (corresponding to the distance L = 500 km to the source) contains the terrestrial and first ionospheric signals that substantially overlap in time, as well as the second ionospheric signal. Obtained using the described method and shown in FIG. 4 b) the graph of the decisive function P (L) has a maximum at a range of L≈500 km.

 Taking into account the difference in the forms of the terrestrial and each of the ionospheric signals using pre-known frequency characteristics of the propagation paths to compensate for the expected atmospheric ionospheric signals with a terrestrial signal (in contrast to the prototype, where the forms of the terrestrial and ionospheric signals are considered the same), increases the range and reduces the range measurement errors to source.

The proposed method for determining the distance to atmospheric sources includes the following sequence of operations: a) take the atmosphere to a vertical electric antenna 1 with a height of 3 m, b) amplify it in the amplifier 2, c) filter it in the frequency band 2 - 35 kHz using filter 3, d) in order to save the initial part of the atmosphere, which precedes the moment of exceeding the threshold, a signal is delayed by 20 μs in the first delay block 4 and e) analog-to-digital conversion of the signal in time with a step Δt = 1 μm is carried out in block 5; nal Z _{i (i} = 1 - I1, where I1 = 400) stored in the first memory unit 6 and g) was treated in the deciding device consisting of N (N = 35) parallel processing channels 11 - 13, each of which is tuned to a fixed the distance L _n to the radiation source in a predetermined range of ranges 300 - 2000 km, h) the signal from the output of the filter, in addition, is compared with a predetermined threshold level in the threshold unit 7, the output of which produces a short pulse signal at the moment the atmospheric threshold is first exceeded level obtained with this signal Al to synchronize the work, they are fed in parallel: i) to the second input of the ADC, k) to the second inputs of the processing channels and l) they are delayed by 500 μs - the time of registration of the atmosphere in the second delay unit is 8, m) a single-shot signal 9 is launched from its output, for the duration of which n) start the clock generator 10, generating 400 pulses, o) the output signals of the clock are fed to the third inputs of the processing channels, p) at the end of the processing of the atmosphere, the output signals of the processing channels are compared in value in block 14 and p) on one of the outputs of this block corresponding to the processing channel with the maximum output signal produce a standard signal, while in each n-th (n = 1 - N) processing channel, the atmospheric signal from the first input is sequentially a1) passed through the subtraction block 15, b1) the square in the quadrator 16, b1) is accumulated in the drive 17 and d1) form an inversely proportional value of the accumulated signal in block 18, the output signal of this block being the output signal of the processing channel, e1) the signal from the output of the subtraction block, in addition, remember in the memory block 19 and e1) are processed in the calculator 20 together with the output signals of the permanent memory block 21 containing the pulse function of the transition from the earth to the spatial signal at a distance L _n to the source, g1) the feedback signal generated at the output of the calculator is fed to the second the input of the subtraction unit to compensate for the spatial signal in the atmosphere, while the signal from the second input of the processing channel, corresponding to the moment of the beginning of the atmosphere, is fed in parallel to the first inputs of the storage device 1) n, i1) of the second memory block and k1) of the calculator, as well as l1) are delayed in the third delay block 22 for the expected delay of the arrival of the spatial signal relative to the terrestrial signal and m1) are fed to the input of the second one-shot 23, the signal from the output of which n1) is allowed to the second input of the drive, while the clock pulses from the third input of the processing channel are fed in parallel to the second inputs o1) of the second memory block and p1) of the calculator, as well as p1) to the third input of the permanent memory are connected to the corresponding inputs la.

 A method for determining the range to lightning discharges can be implemented in a device, a block diagram of which is shown in FIG. 1, where it is indicated: 1 - electric antenna, 2 - amplifier, 3 - filter, 4 - first delay block, 5 - analog-to-digital converter, 6 - first memory block, 7 - threshold block, 8 - second delay block, 9 - one-shot, 10 - clock generator, 11 - 13 - N processing channels, 14 - block determining the processing channel with the maximum output signal, and a block diagram of one processing channel is shown in FIG. 2, where it is indicated: 15 - subtraction unit, 16 - quadrator, 17 - drive, 18 - inverse value calculation unit, 19 - second memory unit, 20 - calculator, 21 - permanent memory unit, 22 - third memory unit, 23 - second single vibrator.

 As blocks 2–4, 6–10, 15–19 and 21–23, standard blocks can be used, including on integrated circuits given in [5], as block 5, a standard analog-to-digital converter, as block 14 is the block described in [6].

 To test the operability of the ranging method, including the calculator 20, a PC-386 computer was used.

When implementing the proposed ranging method, the following is established:
- electric antenna 1 - vertical whip, 3 m long (effective height 1.5 m),
- amplifier 2 - linear, alternating current, broadband with adjustable gain 50 - 500,
- filter 3 - band pass with a passband of 2 - 35 kHz,
- the duration of the delay signal in the block 4 τ _a = 20 μs,
- ADC 5 10-bit with a time step Δt = 1 μs,
- memory block 6 with a volume of 512 words,
- the duration of the delay signal in the block 8 τ _b = 500 μs,
- the duration of the output signal of the one-shot 9 τ _b = 4 ms,
- time step of the clock generator 10 τ _g = 10 μs,
- a memory block 19 of 512 words,
- a block of read-only memory 21 with a volume of 512 words,
- the duration of the treated atmosphere T1 400 μs,
- the expected duration of the terrestrial atmospheric signal T0 120 μs,
- frequency step in the calculation of h _{n, 1} Δf = 2 kHz,
- the range of the range of the method 300 - 2000 km,
- the relative difference between the gradations of the distance of the adjacent processing channels from the average range of these channels ≈5%,
- the number of processing channels N = 35,
- the relative decrease in the errors of ranging compared with the prototype ≈20%.

 The technical result of using the proposed method in comparison with the prototype is to expand the range and increase the accuracy of single-point ranging of atmospheric sources, which can be used in meteorology and civil aviation.

Literature
1. Yepanechnikov V. A. A one-point method for determining the distance to a lightning discharge, MKI G 01 S 11/00, patent application N 97117580/09 with a positive decision of 05/22/98.

 2. Alexandrov M.S., Gaponov I.M., Yepanechnikov V.A., Kazarov Yu.V. Device for one-point determination of the distance to the source of a lightning discharge. RF patent N 1799155 from 08.10.92, MKI G 01 S 11/00.

 3. Kononov I.I., Petrenko I.A., Snegurov V.S. Radio engineering methods for locating thunderclouds. L .: Gidrometeoizdat, 1986.

 4. Makarov G.I., Novikov V.V., Rybachek S.T. Propagation of radio waves in the Earth’s waveguide channel - the ionosphere. -M .: Science, 1993.

 5. "Analog Digital Integrated Circuits" // Ed. Yakubovsky S.V. -M .: Radio and communications, 1985.

 6. A device for determining a channel with a maximum signal level. Copyright certificate 1451609, USSR, MKI 4 G 01 R 19/04.

Claims (1)

The method for determining the range to lightning discharges, which consists in receiving the atmosphere on a vertical electric antenna, amplifying it, filtering it in the required wide frequency band, sampling it in time with a step Δt on a predetermined time interval TI, memorizing the signal Z _i ( i = 1 - I1, where I 1 = TI / Δt) and check it for compliance with each of the N predefined gradations of the range L _n (n = 1 - N) to the source, for which the atmosphere is N-times processed in parallel, and for each nth compensation processing the spatial signal expected at a range L _n to the source is generated in the atmosphere using the terrestrial signal of the same atmosphere, for this a feedback signal Q _{n, i is formed} and subtracted from the signal Z _i , and the difference signal W _{n, i} obtained as a result of such subtraction used to generate the signal Q _{n, i} , while calculating the energy D _{n of the} signal W _{n, i} on a predetermined time interval I0 - I1 (where I0 = TO / Δt, T0 is the expected duration of the earth signal), form the processing output signal P _n = 1 / D _n, is inversely proportional to D _n, memorize it and comparing the obtained values P _{n (n} = 1 - N) in size, are processed with maximum P _n and determine the range to the lightning discharge as the distance corresponding to this processing, characterized in that for each n-th processing of the atmospheric compensating signal Q _{n, i} (i = 1 - I1) form according to the rule

where h _{n, i} is the previously known pulse function of the transition from the terrestrial signal S _{n, i} to the spatial signal U _{n, i} at a distance of L _n to the atmospheric source, defined by the ratio:

where G _no (j2πΔfm) and G _np (j2πΔfm) are the previously known complex transmission coefficients of the propagation paths of terrestrial and spatial signals, respectively;
Δf is a predetermined frequency step;
F - maximum spectrum frequency of the analyzed atmosphere

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