Lightning‐produced NO x in an explicit electrical scheme tested in a Stratosphere‐Troposphere Experiment: Radiation, Aerosols, and Ozone case study

An explicit lightning‐produced nitrogen oxide (LNO x ) scheme has been implemented in a 3‐D mesoscale model. The scheme is based on the simulation of the electrical state of the cloud and provides a prediction of the temporal and spatial distribution of the lightning flashes. The frequency and the 3‐D morphology of the lightning flashes are captured realistically so fresh nitrogen oxide molecules can be added along the complex flash path as a function of the pressure, as suggested by results from laboratory experiments. The scheme is tested on the 10 July 1996 Stratosphere‐Troposphere Experiment: Radiation, Aerosols, and Ozone (STERAO) storm. The model reproduces many features of the observed increase of electrical activity and LNO x flux density between the multicell and supercell stages. LNO x dominates the NO x budget in the upper part of the cells with instantaneous peak concentrations exceeding 4 ppbv, as observed. The computed flux of NO x across the anvil shows a mean value of 6 mol m −2 s −1 during the last 90 min of the simulation. This value is remarkably stable and compares favorably with the observations.