Utility of Geostationary Lightning Mapper-derived lightning NO emission estimates in air quality modeling studies
<p>Lightning is one of the primary natural sources of nitric oxide (NO), and the influence of lightning-induced NO (LNO) emission on air quality has been investigated in the past few decades. In the current study an LNO emissions model, which derives LNO emission estimates from satellite-obser...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Copernicus Publications
2024-01-01
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| Series: | Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics |
| Online Access: | https://acp.copernicus.org/articles/24/41/2024/acp-24-41-2024.pdf |
| _version_ | 1797366362205585408 |
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| author | P. Cheng P. Cheng A. Pour-Biazar Y. Wu S. Kuang R. T. McNider W. J. Koshak |
| author_facet | P. Cheng P. Cheng A. Pour-Biazar Y. Wu S. Kuang R. T. McNider W. J. Koshak |
| author_sort | P. Cheng |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <p>Lightning is one of the primary natural sources of nitric oxide (NO), and the influence of lightning-induced NO (LNO) emission on air quality has been investigated in the past few decades. In the current study an LNO emissions model, which derives LNO emission estimates from satellite-observed lightning optical energy, is introduced. The estimated LNO emission is employed in an air quality modeling system to investigate the potential influence of LNO on tropospheric ozone. Results show that lightning produced 0.174 Tg N of nitrogen oxides (NO<span class="inline-formula"><sub><i>x</i></sub></span> <span class="inline-formula">=</span> NO <span class="inline-formula">+</span> NO<span class="inline-formula"><sub>2</sub></span>) over the contiguous US (CONUS) domain between June and September 2019, which accounts for 11.4 % of the total NO<span class="inline-formula"><sub><i>x</i></sub></span> emission. In August 2019, LNO emission increased ozone concentration within the troposphere by an average of 1 %–2 % (or 0.3–1.5 ppbv), depending on the altitude; the enhancement is maximum at <span class="inline-formula">∼</span> 4 km above ground level and minimum near the surface. The southeastern US has the most significant ground-level ozone increase, with up to 1 ppbv (or 2 % of the mean observed value) difference for the maximum daily 8 h average (MDA8) ozone. These numbers are near the lower bound of the uncertainty range given in previous studies. The decreasing trend in anthropogenic NO<span class="inline-formula"><sub><i>x</i></sub></span> emissions over the past 2 decades increases the relative contribution of LNO emissions to total NO<span class="inline-formula"><sub><i>x</i></sub></span> emissions, suggesting that the LNO production rate used in this study may need to be increased. Corrections for the sensor flash detection efficiency may also be helpful. Moreover, the episodic impact of LNO on tropospheric ozone can be considerable. Performing backward trajectory analyses revealed two main reasons for significant ozone increases: long-distance chemical transport and lightning activity in the upwind direction shortly before the event.</p> |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T17:04:03Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-979f2c24ace14409ab3712c59db5b07e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1680-7316 1680-7324 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T17:04:03Z |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | Copernicus Publications |
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| series | Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics |
| spelling | doaj.art-979f2c24ace14409ab3712c59db5b07e2024-01-04T06:42:16ZengCopernicus PublicationsAtmospheric Chemistry and Physics1680-73161680-73242024-01-0124416310.5194/acp-24-41-2024Utility of Geostationary Lightning Mapper-derived lightning NO emission estimates in air quality modeling studiesP. Cheng0P. Cheng1A. Pour-Biazar2Y. Wu3S. Kuang4R. T. McNider5W. J. Koshak6Zhejiang Climate Center, Zhejiang Meteorological Bureau, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310052, ChinaDepartment of Atmospheric and Earth Science, University of Alabama in Huntsville, Huntsville, AL 35805, USAEarth System Science Center, University of Alabama in Huntsville, Huntsville, AL 35805, USAEarth System Science Center, University of Alabama in Huntsville, Huntsville, AL 35805, USAEarth System Science Center, University of Alabama in Huntsville, Huntsville, AL 35805, USADepartment of Atmospheric and Earth Science, University of Alabama in Huntsville, Huntsville, AL 35805, USAEarth Science Branch, NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, AL 35808, USA<p>Lightning is one of the primary natural sources of nitric oxide (NO), and the influence of lightning-induced NO (LNO) emission on air quality has been investigated in the past few decades. In the current study an LNO emissions model, which derives LNO emission estimates from satellite-observed lightning optical energy, is introduced. The estimated LNO emission is employed in an air quality modeling system to investigate the potential influence of LNO on tropospheric ozone. Results show that lightning produced 0.174 Tg N of nitrogen oxides (NO<span class="inline-formula"><sub><i>x</i></sub></span> <span class="inline-formula">=</span> NO <span class="inline-formula">+</span> NO<span class="inline-formula"><sub>2</sub></span>) over the contiguous US (CONUS) domain between June and September 2019, which accounts for 11.4 % of the total NO<span class="inline-formula"><sub><i>x</i></sub></span> emission. In August 2019, LNO emission increased ozone concentration within the troposphere by an average of 1 %–2 % (or 0.3–1.5 ppbv), depending on the altitude; the enhancement is maximum at <span class="inline-formula">∼</span> 4 km above ground level and minimum near the surface. The southeastern US has the most significant ground-level ozone increase, with up to 1 ppbv (or 2 % of the mean observed value) difference for the maximum daily 8 h average (MDA8) ozone. These numbers are near the lower bound of the uncertainty range given in previous studies. The decreasing trend in anthropogenic NO<span class="inline-formula"><sub><i>x</i></sub></span> emissions over the past 2 decades increases the relative contribution of LNO emissions to total NO<span class="inline-formula"><sub><i>x</i></sub></span> emissions, suggesting that the LNO production rate used in this study may need to be increased. Corrections for the sensor flash detection efficiency may also be helpful. Moreover, the episodic impact of LNO on tropospheric ozone can be considerable. Performing backward trajectory analyses revealed two main reasons for significant ozone increases: long-distance chemical transport and lightning activity in the upwind direction shortly before the event.</p>https://acp.copernicus.org/articles/24/41/2024/acp-24-41-2024.pdf |
| spellingShingle | P. Cheng P. Cheng A. Pour-Biazar Y. Wu S. Kuang R. T. McNider W. J. Koshak Utility of Geostationary Lightning Mapper-derived lightning NO emission estimates in air quality modeling studies Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics |
| title | Utility of Geostationary Lightning Mapper-derived lightning NO emission estimates in air quality modeling studies |
| title_full | Utility of Geostationary Lightning Mapper-derived lightning NO emission estimates in air quality modeling studies |
| title_fullStr | Utility of Geostationary Lightning Mapper-derived lightning NO emission estimates in air quality modeling studies |
| title_full_unstemmed | Utility of Geostationary Lightning Mapper-derived lightning NO emission estimates in air quality modeling studies |
| title_short | Utility of Geostationary Lightning Mapper-derived lightning NO emission estimates in air quality modeling studies |
| title_sort | utility of geostationary lightning mapper derived lightning no emission estimates in air quality modeling studies |
| url | https://acp.copernicus.org/articles/24/41/2024/acp-24-41-2024.pdf |
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