Lightning-generated NOx and its impact on tropospheric ozone production: A three-dimensional modeling study of a stratosphere-troposphere experiment: Radiation, aerosols and ozone (STERAO-A) thunderstorm

Decaria, AJ; Pickering, KE; Stenchikov, GL; Ott, LE

HERO ID

89451

Reference Type

Journal Article

Year

2005

HERO ID 89451
In Press No
Year 2005
Title Lightning-generated NOx and its impact on tropospheric ozone production: A three-dimensional modeling study of a stratosphere-troposphere experiment: Radiation, aerosols and ozone (STERAO-A) thunderstorm
Authors Decaria, AJ; Pickering, KE; Stenchikov, GL; Ott, LE
Journal Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres
Volume 110
Issue D14
Page Numbers D14303
Abstract A three-dimensional cloud-scale chemical transport model has been used to simulate trace gas transport, lightning NO production, and photochemical ozone production in the 12 July 1996 storm observed during the Stratosphere-Troposphere Experiment: Radiation, Aerosols and Ozone (STERAO-A) field experiment. The model is driven by meteorological fields from a nonhydrostatic cloud-resolving model (see Stenchikov et al., 2005). An assumption that both cloud-to-ground and intracloud flashes produce 460 moles NO/flash on average yielded the best comparison with the profile of NO observed in the storm anvil. Scenarios in which the NO production of an intracloud flash was 75 to 100% of the production of a cloud-to-ground flash best matched the column NOx mass computed from observations. Additional ozone production attributable to lightning NO within the storm cloud during the lifetime of the storm was very small (∼2 ppbv). However, simulations of the photochemistry over the 24 hours following the storm show that an additional 10 ppbv of ozone production can be attributed to lightning NO production in the upper troposphere. Convective transport of HOx precursors led to the generation of a HOx plume, which substantially aided the downstream ozone production. Soluble species mixing ratios in the simulated cloud were all within a factor of two of observations.
Doi 10.1029/2004JD005556
Wosid WOS:000230918100002
Url http://www.agu.org/pubs/crossref/2005/2004JD005556.shtml
Is Certified Translation No
Dupe Override No
Comments ECRIB. x in title is subscript.J. Geophys. Res. [Atmos.] 110(D14303): 10.1029/2004JD005556.
Is Public Yes
Keyword lightning; nitrogen oxides; convection
Is Qa No
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