Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-3579
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-3579
26 Nov 2024
 | 26 Nov 2024
Status: this preprint is open for discussion and under review for Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics (ACP).

Spatially separate production of hydrogen oxides and nitric oxide in lightning

Jena M. Jenkins and William H. Brune

Abstract. The atmosphere’s most important oxidizer, the hydroxyl radical (OH), is generated in abundance by lightning, but the contribution of this electrically generated OH (LOH) to global OH oxidation remains highly uncertain. Part of this uncertainty is due to the abundant nitric oxide (NO) also generated in lightning, which could rapidly remove the LOH before it can oxidize other pollutants in the atmosphere. However, evidence from a previous laboratory study indicated LOH is not immediately consumed by NO, possibly because LOH’s production is spatially separated from the NO production in lightning flashes. This hypothesis of spatially separate OH and NO production is further tested here in a series of laboratory experiments, where the OH decays were measured from spark discharges in air which had increasing amounts of NO added to it. The LOH decayed faster as more NO was added to the air, indicating that the LOH was reacting with the added NO, and not the spark NO. Thus, LOH from lightning flashes is not immediately consumed by the electrically generated NO but is available to oxidize other pollutants in the atmosphere and contribute to global OH oxidation. Subsequent modelling of the laboratory data also supports the spatially separate production of LOH and NO, and further suggests that substantial HONO is also produced by sparks and lightning in the atmosphere.

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Jena M. Jenkins and William H. Brune

Status: open (until 07 Jan 2025)

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Jena M. Jenkins and William H. Brune
Jena M. Jenkins and William H. Brune

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Short summary
Both the atmosphere’s primary cleaner, the hydroxyl radical, and nitric oxide are generated in extreme amounts by lightning, and laboratory and modelling experiments demonstrate that these molecules are generated in different places in lightning flashes. Thus the hydroxyl radical is not immediately consumed by the nitric oxide and instead is available to remove other pollutants in the atmosphere. Additionally, substantial nitrous acid is also likely generated by lightning.