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.