Work

Lightning Source of Nitrogen Oxides (NO x ) Inferred From Geostationary Satellites: Global Implications for Oxidant Chemistry

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Lightning is a major source of nitrogen oxide radicals (NO x ≡ NO + NO 2 ), but large uncertainties in NO x yields per flash hinder accurate quantification of emissions and impacts on oxidant chemistry. We use 1 year of concurrent geostationary satellite observations of free tropospheric (FT) NO 2 from TEMPO and flash rates from GLM to show that lightning is the dominant source of FT NO x over North America. The observed FT NO 2 and its correlation with flash rates imply a NO x yield of 150 ± 60 mol N flash −1 . Applying this yield globally in the GEOS‐Chem atmospheric chemistry model reduces lightning NO x emissions from 6.6 to 3.2 Tg N yr −1 . This generally improves simulated NO x , ozone, and hydroxyl radical in comparison with satellite and in situ measurements, though with some regional overcorrections for ozone. The methane lifetime against tropospheric OH increases from 8.7 to 9.4 years, partially reducing the gap with the best empirical estimate (11 years).

Source: Geophysical Research Letters

DOI: 10.1029/2026gl124557

Authors: Ruijun Dang, Daniel J. Jacob, Megan He, Olivia E. Clifton, Ke Li, Hong Liao

Institutions: Harvard University, Peking University, ExxonMobil (United States), Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology

Language: English

Topic: Atmospheric chemistry and aerosols

Subfield: Atmospheric Science

Field: Earth and Planetary Sciences

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Climate action

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,190