The influence of lightning activity on NOx and O3 in the Pearl River Delta region

Xue Zhang; Tao Deng; Dui Wu; Lüwen Chen; Guowen He; Honglong Yang; Yu Zou; Chenglei Pei; Dingli Yue; Liping Tao; Shanshan Ouyang; Qing Wang; Zebiao Zhang

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.166001

The influence of lightning activity on NO_x and O₃ in the Pearl River Delta region

Sci Total Environ. 2023 Dec 1:902:166001. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.166001. Epub 2023 Aug 2.

Authors

Xue Zhang¹, Tao Deng², Dui Wu³, Lüwen Chen⁴, Guowen He⁵, Honglong Yang⁶, Yu Zou⁴, Chenglei Pei⁷, Dingli Yue⁸, Liping Tao¹, Shanshan Ouyang⁹, Qing Wang¹, Zebiao Zhang¹

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Mass Spectrometry and Atmospheric Environment, Jinan University, Guangzhou 511443, China; Institute of Tropical and Marine Meteorology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Regional Numerical Weather Prediction, China Meteorological Administration, Guangzhou 510640, China.
² Institute of Tropical and Marine Meteorology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Regional Numerical Weather Prediction, China Meteorological Administration, Guangzhou 510640, China. Electronic address: tdeng@gd121.cn.
³ Institute of Mass Spectrometry and Atmospheric Environment, Jinan University, Guangzhou 511443, China; Institute of Tropical and Marine Meteorology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Regional Numerical Weather Prediction, China Meteorological Administration, Guangzhou 510640, China. Electronic address: wudui.vip@foxmail.com.
⁴ Institute of Tropical and Marine Meteorology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Regional Numerical Weather Prediction, China Meteorological Administration, Guangzhou 510640, China.
⁵ Institute of Tropical and Marine Meteorology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Regional Numerical Weather Prediction, China Meteorological Administration, Guangzhou 510640, China; School of Atmospheric Science, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai 519082, China.
⁶ Shenzhen National Climate Observatory, Meteorological Bureau of Shenzhen Municipality, Shenzhen 518040, China.
⁷ Guangzhou Environmental Monitoring Center Station, Guangzhou 511443, China.
⁸ Guangdong Provincial Environmental Monitoring Center, Guangzhou 511443, China.
⁹ Institute of Tropical and Marine Meteorology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Regional Numerical Weather Prediction, China Meteorological Administration, Guangzhou 510640, China; Institute of Environmental and Climate Research, Jinan University, Guangzhou 511443, China.

PMID: 37536585
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.166001

Abstract

Extremely high-temperature lightning generates NO_x by electrolyzing nitrogen and oxygen molecules, regulating ozone concentration. The Pearl River Delta (PRD) is located in the world's high-value area of lightning density, and lightning-generated NO_x (LNO_x) cannot be ignored. Using the flash data from Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Lightning Location System and multi-site atmospheric composition data, we estimate the NO_x variations in lightning activity and its impact on O₃ across the PRD region. The cloud-to-groud (CG) frequency from 2013 to 2021 shows a decreasing trend driven by urban regions. We observe that the lightning density is steadily decreasing from the south-central part of Guangzhou City to the surrounding area. A comparison of the different sites with lightning days and non-lightning days shows that a significant amount (13. 84-20. 47 %) of ground-level NO_x concentration at urban stations can be attributed to lightning NO_x emissions. A lower lightning frequency and low background concentration observed at suburban sites indicated a limited contribution of LNO_x. The average decrease in O₃ concentration at urban stations (15.92-25.06 %) was significantly higher than that at suburban stations (5.34-8.95 %) due to the influence of titration and lower actinic radiation. There was a greater fluctuation in NO_x and O₃ concentrations during the cases, and the surface NO_x concentration displayed the most significant responsiveness to LNO_x under direct lightning striking in the tall tower. This phenomenon has not been reported, however, it is consistent with the laboratory-based observations suggesting the amount of LNO increases with peak current. LNO_x significantly impacts air quality in the PRD during the high convective season. Further in situ and vertical distribution observations are necessary to explore the ground-level impact of LNO_x.

Keywords: Lightning; Nitrogen oxides; Ozone; Vertical observation.