Spatial variability of lightning intensity over the Mediterranean sea correlates with seawater properties
Abstract The divergence of total alkalinity (TA) from conservation with salinity (S) and relatively acidic conditions (pH) in surface seawater was suggested to explain the high prevalence of lightning superbolts in the Mediterranean sea, North sea and upwelling regions of the oceans. In this study w...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2023-04-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-33115-0 |
| _version_ | 1797845939480690688 |
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| author | Mustafa Asfur Colin Price Yoav Yair Jacob Silverman |
| author_facet | Mustafa Asfur Colin Price Yoav Yair Jacob Silverman |
| author_sort | Mustafa Asfur |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The divergence of total alkalinity (TA) from conservation with salinity (S) and relatively acidic conditions (pH) in surface seawater was suggested to explain the high prevalence of lightning superbolts in the Mediterranean sea, North sea and upwelling regions of the oceans. In this study we tested the combined effects of changes in S, TA and pH of Mediterranean sea surface water on the intensity of laboratory generated electrical sparks, which are considered to be analogous to cloud to sea-surface intensity of lightning discharges. The experimental results were used to develop a multivariate linear equation (MLE) of Lightning Flash Intensity (LFI) as a function of S, TA/S and pH. This relation was validated with wintertime (DJF) LFI measurements along a Mediterranean sea zonal profile during the period 2009–2020 compared to corresponding climate model outputs of S, TA and pH. Based on the resulting MLE, the combined effects of climate change, ocean acidification and the damming of the Nile, may have increased LFI in the Levantine Sea by 16 ± 14% until now relative to the pre-Aswan Dam period. Furthermore, assuming that salinization and acidification of the Levantine Sea will continue at current trends, the LFI is predicted to increase by 25 ± 13% by the year 2050. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-09T17:48:06Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4ea6f3fa910d4a69a12c7ac32015147e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-09T17:48:06Z |
| publishDate | 2023-04-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-4ea6f3fa910d4a69a12c7ac32015147e2023-04-16T11:13:46ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222023-04-011311810.1038/s41598-023-33115-0Spatial variability of lightning intensity over the Mediterranean sea correlates with seawater propertiesMustafa Asfur0Colin Price1Yoav Yair2Jacob Silverman3Faculty of Marine Sciences, Ruppin Academic CenterPorter School of the Environment and Earth Sciences, Tel Aviv UniversitySchool of Sustainability, Reichman UniversityNational Institute of Oceanography, Israel Oceanographic and Limnological ResearchAbstract The divergence of total alkalinity (TA) from conservation with salinity (S) and relatively acidic conditions (pH) in surface seawater was suggested to explain the high prevalence of lightning superbolts in the Mediterranean sea, North sea and upwelling regions of the oceans. In this study we tested the combined effects of changes in S, TA and pH of Mediterranean sea surface water on the intensity of laboratory generated electrical sparks, which are considered to be analogous to cloud to sea-surface intensity of lightning discharges. The experimental results were used to develop a multivariate linear equation (MLE) of Lightning Flash Intensity (LFI) as a function of S, TA/S and pH. This relation was validated with wintertime (DJF) LFI measurements along a Mediterranean sea zonal profile during the period 2009–2020 compared to corresponding climate model outputs of S, TA and pH. Based on the resulting MLE, the combined effects of climate change, ocean acidification and the damming of the Nile, may have increased LFI in the Levantine Sea by 16 ± 14% until now relative to the pre-Aswan Dam period. Furthermore, assuming that salinization and acidification of the Levantine Sea will continue at current trends, the LFI is predicted to increase by 25 ± 13% by the year 2050.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-33115-0 |
| spellingShingle | Mustafa Asfur Colin Price Yoav Yair Jacob Silverman Spatial variability of lightning intensity over the Mediterranean sea correlates with seawater properties Scientific Reports |
| title | Spatial variability of lightning intensity over the Mediterranean sea correlates with seawater properties |
| title_full | Spatial variability of lightning intensity over the Mediterranean sea correlates with seawater properties |
| title_fullStr | Spatial variability of lightning intensity over the Mediterranean sea correlates with seawater properties |
| title_full_unstemmed | Spatial variability of lightning intensity over the Mediterranean sea correlates with seawater properties |
| title_short | Spatial variability of lightning intensity over the Mediterranean sea correlates with seawater properties |
| title_sort | spatial variability of lightning intensity over the mediterranean sea correlates with seawater properties |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-33115-0 |
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