The importance of NO x production by lightning in the tropics
Abstract
The importance of NO x production by lightning in the tropics has been assessed by using satellite lightning measurements from the Lightning Image Sensor (LIS). The lightning data from LIS over the period of 1998-2000 are analyzed and partitioned based on the latitude to obtain the numbers of cloud-to-ground (CG) and cloud-to-cloud (intracloud or IC) flashes. The average annual lightning counts over the 3-yr period are 3.0×10 8 CG flashes and 1.1×10 9 IC flashes between 35°N and 35°S. The resulting lightning distributions are employed to calculate the production of NO x. We obtain a lightning NO x production of 6.3 Tg N yr -1 over this latitudinal region, using representative production values of 6.7×10 26 and 6.7×10 25 NO molecules for each CG and IC flash, respectively. NO x production by lightning varies slightly on a seasonal basis in accordance with the lightning distribution, with the maximum production occurring in the months of September, October, and November. The geographical and seasonal production of NO x by lightning is compared to NO x emissions from other sources (i.e., from anthropogenic activity, biomass burning, and soil emissions). The results indicate that production of NO x by tropical lightning is significant throughout the year. Lightning accounts for almost all of the NO x emitted over the oceans and 50-90% of NO x emitted over some continental areas on a seasonal basis. On the annual basis, the contribution of lightning to total NO x production is 23% in the tropics, and globally the lightning NO x production occurs predominately in this region. The uncertainty in estimating NO x production by lightning over the tropics is discussed.
- Publication:
-
Atmospheric Environment
- Pub Date:
- 2002
- DOI:
- 10.1016/S1352-2310(01)00553-2
- Bibcode:
- 2002AtmEn..36.1509B