Midlatitude Lightning NOx Production Efficiency Inferred From OMI and WWLLN Data. Issue 23 (5th December 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bucsela, Eric J.; Pickering, Kenneth E.; Allen, Dale J.; Holzworth, Robert H.; Krotkov, Nickolay A.
• Is Part Of: Journal of geophysical research. Volume 124:Issue 23(2019)
• Page Start: 13475
• Page End: 13497
• Publication Date: 2019-12-05
• Subjects: lightning -- NOx -- production -- OMI -- WWLLN; Atmospheric physics -- Periodicals; Geophysics -- Periodicals; 551.5
• DOI: 10.1029/2019JD030561
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2169-897X

Abstract

Abstract: Oxides of nitrogen are critical trace gases in the troposphere and are precursors for nitrate aerosol and ozone, which is an important pollutant and greenhouse gas. Lightning is the major source of NOx (NO + NO2 ) in the middle to upper troposphere. We estimate the production efficiency (PE) of lightning NOx (LNOx ) using satellite data from the Ozone Monitoring Instrument and the ground‐based World Wide Lightning Location Network in three northern midlatitudes, primarily continental regions that include much of North America, Europe, and East Asia. Data were obtained over five boreal summers, 2007–2011, and comprise the largest number of midlatitude convective events to date for estimating the LNOx PE with satellite NO2 and ground‐based lightning measurements. In contrast to some previous studies, the algorithm assumes no minimum flash‐rate threshold and estimates freshly produced LNOx by subtracting a background of aged NOx estimated from the Ozone Monitoring Instrument data set itself. We infer an average value of 180 ± 100 moles LNOx produced per lightning flash. We also show evidence of a dependence of PE on lightning flash rate and find an approximate empirical power function relating moles LNOx to flashes. PE decreases by an order of magnitude for a 2 orders of magnitude increase in flash rate. This phenomenon has not been reported in previous satellite LNOx studies but is consistent with ground‐based observations suggesting an inverse relationship between flash rate and size. Plain Language Summary: Oxides of nitrogen (NOx = NO + NO2 ) are minor gases in the atmosphere but are important in its chemistry. Their major source in the upper troposphere is lightning, which creates nitric oxide (NO) by breaking apart nitrogen and oxygen molecules. Estimating how much total NO is produced requires knowledge of the average production efficiency of individual lightning flashes. From midlatitude satellite measurements of nitrogen dioxide (NO2 ) and lightning detections from ground, we find a mean production efficiency of 180 moles NO per lightning flash, somewhat smaller than the ~250 mol/fl averaged globally in previous studies. We also show that production efficiency is smaller in storms with more frequent lightning. Key Points: Lightning flash rates from the World Wide Lightning Location Network are distinctly correlated with lightning‐NOx estimates from the Ozone Monitoring Instrument The observations yield a mean midlatitude production efficiency (PE) of 180 ± 100 moles of lightning NOx (LNOx ) per lightning flash LNOx production is proportional to a power function of lightning flash rate, with exponent between 0 and 1. Results imply that the PE is lower in storms with more frequent flashes