Open AccessEffect of lightning activity on surface NO x and O 3 over a tropical station during premonsoon and monsoon seasons
Author(s) -
Pawar Vidya,
Pawar S. D.,
Beig Gufran,
Sahu S. K.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
journal of geophysical research: atmospheres
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.67
H-Index - 298
eISSN - 2156-2202
pISSN - 0148-0227
DOI - 10.1029/2011jd016930
Subject(s) - thunderstorm , lightning (connector) , environmental science , ozone , atmospheric sciences , monsoon , climatology , atmosphere (unit) , meteorology , geology , geography , physics , power (physics) , quantum mechanics
We study the effect of lightning activity on surface NO x and O 3 over Pune, India (18.54°N, 73.81°E) for the years 2005 to 2008 during thunderstorm events in premonsoon and monsoon periods. Surface concentration of NO x is found to be increased significantly at the dissipation stage of thunderstorms. It is observed that increase in NO x greater than titration threshold level reduces the surface ozone concentration. However, in some cases when NO x increases but it does not reach the titration threshold limit, it helps in the production of ozone. Thus, results suggest that lightning production of NO x inside a thunderstorm can lead to significant impacts on surface ozone concentrations in the tropics. Enhancement in NO x at the surface after thunderstorm activity is much greater in premonsoon periods compared to the monsoon period.