A statistical study using lightning data in Portugal from a Lightning Location System

This paper presents a study on lightning statistics over the continental territory of Portugal during a period from 2003 to 2014, using the data collected by the national Lightning Location System. Being part of the EUCLID (European Cooperation of Lightning Detection) project, this European grid is presented and its performance validated over the European continent. With the measured and then processed data, an overall ground flash density map is built, as well as a mean peak current map. In addition, a cumulative probability distribution curve is obtain and compared to the widely used CIGRE curve, followed by the application of both curves to a case study where IEEE Flash software is used.