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Global impact of lightning-produced oxidants
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  • Jingqiu Mao,
  • Tianlang Zhao,
  • Christoph A. Keller,
  • Patrick J. McFarland,
  • Jena M. Jenkins,
  • William H. Brune
Jingqiu Mao
University of Alaska Fairbanks

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Tianlang Zhao
University of Alaska Fairbanks
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Christoph A. Keller
Universities Space Research Association
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Patrick J. McFarland
Pennsylvania State University
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Jena M. Jenkins
Pennsylvania State University
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William H. Brune
Pennsylvania State University
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Abstract

Lightning plays a major role in tropospheric oxidation, and its role on modulating tropospheric chemistry was thought to be emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx). Recent field and laboratory measurements demonstrate that lightning generates extremely large amounts of oxidants, including hydrogen oxides (HOx) and O3. We here implement the lightning-produced oxidants in a global chemical transport model to examine its global impact on tropospheric composition. We find that lightning-produced oxidants can increase global mass weighted OH by 0.3-10%, and affect CO, O3, and reactive nitrogen substantially, depending on the emission strength of oxidants from lightning. Our work highlights the importance and uncertainties of lightning-produced oxidants, as well as the need for rethinking the role of lightning in tropospheric oxidation chemistry.
16 Nov 2021Published in Geophysical Research Letters volume 48 issue 21. 10.1029/2021GL095740