Measurements of NOX produced by rocket-triggered lightning

• Published in: Geophysical research letters Vol. 34; no. 3; pp. L03816 - n/a
• Main Authors: Rahman, M., Cooray, V., Rakov, V. A., Uman, M. A., Liyanage, P., DeCarlo, B. A., Jerauld, J., Olsen III, R. C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC American Geophysical Union 13.02.2007; Blackwell Publishing Ltd
• Subjects: Atmosphere; Atmospheric Composition and Structure; Atmospheric electricity; Atmospheric Processes; composition and chemistry; Constituent sources and sinks; Earth sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Electricity, Esp The Study Of Transients and Discharges; Elektricitetslära, ssk studiet av transienter och urladdning; Engineering Science with specialization in Atmospheric Discharges; Exact sciences and technology; Global Change; Lightning; NOX; TECHNOLOGY; TEKNIKVETENSKAP; Teknisk fysik med inriktning mot atmosfäriska urladdningar; Troposphere; Florida; United States; lightning; NO X; Ground discharge; currents; testing; Cloud discharge; North America; Return stroke
• ISSN: 0094-8276; 1944-8007; 1944-8007
• DOI: 10.1029/2006GL027956

We present the first direct measurements of NOX generated by specific lightning sources. In July 2005, three negative lightning flashes were triggered using the rocket‐and‐wire technique at the International Center for Lightning Research and Testing (ICLRT) at Camp Blanding, Florida. The NOX produced by these three rocket‐triggered flashes was measured. The NOX production per unit charge was between 2 and 3 · 1020 molecules per meter per coulomb. The data show that the NOX production is primarily from long‐duration, steady currents, as opposed to microsecond‐scale impulsive return stroke currents. This observation implies that cloud discharges, which transfer, via a steady current of the order of 100 A, larger charges than ground discharges, but do not contain return strokes, are as efficient as (or more efficient than) cloud‐to‐ground discharges in producing NOX.