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Lightning feedbacks on climate. Lightning produces NOx by channel heating, dissociation of N 2 , O 2 NOx efficient producer of ozone in free troposphere Ozone is appreciable GHG in troposphere Strong absorption around at higher frequencies Lifetime ~ weeks
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Lightning feedbacks on climate • Lightning produces NOx by channel heating, dissociation of N2, O2 • NOx efficient producer of ozone in free troposphere • Ozone is appreciable GHG in troposphere • Strong absorption around at higher frequencies • Lifetime ~ weeks • Not well mixed throughout globe, 25-150% of CO2 forcing • Flash frequency of 50-800% per degree C of heating, more sensitive at lower latitudes • But global warming more pronouced at higher latitudes
Increased pollution and thunderstorms will also increase Nox mass transport to free troposphere • However, water vapor is a sink of upper tropospheric ozone in presence of sunlight • Studies have suggested possible lightning ozone climate feedback • IF LIGHTNING IS PREFERENTAILLY INCREASED IN THE TROPICS, WHAT EFFECT COULD THAT HAVE ON GLOBAL CIRCULATIONS?