Abstract:This article presents a comparative analysis of the detection performance differences between two types of lightning location systems, namely the newly built DDW1 and the original ADTD in Sichuan Province, based on the 2022 observation data of 78 DDW1 sensors and 19 ADTD sensors. The research findings are as follows: 1. Using an altitude threshold of 1000 m, topography significantly affects lightning detection network configurations: station spacing in mountainous regions varies greatly and lacks uniformity, whereas networks in plains are more compact and evenly distributed. 2. The cloud-to-ground flash positioning results of both the DDW1 and ADTD systems are found to be consistent with radar echoes. 3. With the exception of the Ganzi station, the trigger thresholds of the 16 co-located stations for both systems exhibit consistency. Furthermore, the 15 co-located stations demonstrate high consistency in terms of GPS error amplification factor and noise passing rate. However, there are 5 co-located sites that exhibit inconsistencies in crystal oscillator deviation values. 4. In most areas of Sichuan Province, the cloud-to-ground lightning density of the DDW1 system is approximately twice that of the ADTD system. However, there are still detection limitations for thunderstorms in western Sichuan Province. The positive and negative return stroke current peaks detected by the ADTD system range between 20~30 kA and -30~-20 kA respectively, while the corresponding peak values of the DDW1 system are 10~20 kA and -20~-10 kA respectively. The positive and negative return stroke peak current intensities of the DDW1 system are approximately 1.04 times that of the corresponding ADTD system. 5. Overall, the consistency of the normalized return stroke electric field, north-south peak magnetic field, east-west peak magnetic field and azimuth angle of the DDW1 and ADTD sensors at the same site is poor, while the consistency of the return stroke time and post-zero-crossing time is moderate. 6. The time distribution of cloud-to-ground flash positioning results for both the DDW1 and ADTD systems follows a similar pattern to the time distribution of return strokes detected by stations. They exhibit an approximate bimodal distribution, with peak activity observed during nighttime and a decrease during noon. 7. The capture rates of return strokes for both DDW1 and ADTD stations are found to be suboptimal. In the future, it is recommended to develop propagation time correction algorithms suitable for complex terrains and apply equipment measurement calibration technology to the National Lightning Detection Network (CNLDN). The research findings serve as a scientific basis for the subsequent construction, operation and application of CNLDN’s observation data.