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Lightning NOx measurements during and after DC3

Lightning NOx measurements during and after DC3. GLM Science Meeting, Huntsville, AL September 19, 2012. Harold Peterson: USRA Arastoo Biazar , Mike Newchurch , Wesley Cantrell: UAH. Motivation. Lightning NOx has been measured by: Aircraft Satellite Laboratory

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Lightning NOx measurements during and after DC3

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  1. Lightning NOx measurements during and after DC3 GLM Science Meeting, Huntsville, AL September 19, 2012 Harold Peterson: USRA ArastooBiazar, Mike Newchurch, Wesley Cantrell: UAH

  2. Motivation • Lightning NOx has been measured by: • Aircraft • Satellite • Laboratory • Chambers capturing rocket-triggered lightning • Models • What has yet to be done is a simple measurement near thunderstorms

  3. Experiment design

  4. Experiment design • So simple a baby could do it? (Well, almost…)

  5. Detailed measurements NLDN Lightning image is for 5:00-5:15 p.m. local time, with SW winds at the surface advecting in NOx (all NO2)

  6. Detailed measurements Lightning image on left is for 5:45-6:00 p.m. local time, with N to NE winds at site; slight time lag in CG lightning to NOx increase (mostly NO2)

  7. Detailed measurements Lightning image is for 5:00-5:15 p.m. local time; SSE winds at the time of the increase in NOx (mostly NO2)

  8. Conclusions • Lightning NOx has a signal that is unique from anthropogenic NOx • Lower amplitude (sometimes), longer duration, NO2 instead of NO • Larger than background NOx, so we know there is an additional source above and beyond concurrent anthropogenic NOx • No wildfires present in the area during the measurement period, so there are no other natural NOx sources

  9. Conclusions • Consequence 1: Larger than normal peaks in NOx concentration may result from an anthropogenic event superimposed on a lightning event (compare July 6 and July 7 morning NOx)

  10. Conclusions • Consequence 2 (TBD): Similar effects are predicted for lightning ozone

  11. Acknowledgements • Thank you to Solomon Bairai and TVA for loaning us a calibrated NOxdetector • NLDN lightning images are from the Global Hydrology Research Center • Wind direction maps are from Kevin Knupp’s berm instruments

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