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Production of nitrogen oxides by lightning discharges
Author(s) -
Tuck A. F.
Publication year - 1976
Publication title -
quarterly journal of the royal meteorological society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.744
H-Index - 143
eISSN - 1477-870X
pISSN - 0035-9009
DOI - 10.1002/qj.49710243404
Subject(s) - lightning (connector) , environmental science , storm , nitrogen , atmospheric sciences , stratosphere , nitrogen oxides , meteorology , nitrogen oxide , nitrate , convective storm detection , rainwater harvesting , climatology , nox , geography , chemistry , geology , physics , engineering , ecology , power (physics) , organic chemistry , quantum mechanics , biology , combustion , waste management
The annual production of nitric oxide by lightning discharges is estimated to be 1.8 × 10 35 molecules, within rather large limits of uncertainty. Implications for the global budget of odd nitrogen species are cursorily examined. More data are needed to decide whether or not lightning‐produced nitrogen oxides are transported in significant quantities to the stratosphere. Closer studies of the budget of nitrate in rainwater, and of air trajectories in large cumulonimbus storms, are also indicated.