An estimate of the impact of transient luminous events on the atmospheric temperature

Arnone, Enrico; Berg, Peter; Arnold, Neil; Thejll, Peter

doi:10.5194/adgeo-13-37-2008

Cited by 5 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 25 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…At this magnitude, sprite-NO x have detectable levels under favorable conditions. This confirms what is suggested by the analysis of satellite observations of NO x by Arnone et al [6,7], Rodger et al [21], and Arnone et al [5], with significant impact at local scale and negligible at global scale. At this magnitude of perturbation, any impact on the atmosphere would be negligible (see, e.g., [7]).…”

Section: Climate-chemistry Sensitivity To Tle-no Xsupporting

confidence: 88%

“…The coincidence window was chosen to be 60 min prior to MIPAS measurement, with horizontal dimensions of 500 km along latitude and 60 km along longitude, and a threshold of 10 WWLLN counts. Results by Arnone et al [6,7] over the period August-December 2003 showed a perturbation peak in the thunderstorm-NO 2 of about 1 ppbv (10 %) at 52 km altitude. An extension of this analysis up to April 2004 confirmed a significant change over latitudes 0-20 North (2-5 % at 52 km), with no significant change in ozone or other species.…”

Section: Thunderstorm Signatures In Mipas2d Nomentioning

confidence: 90%

“…Two observational studies investigated sprite-induced perturbations with satellite measurements. Arnone et al [5][6][7] found a possible sprite-induced NO 2 perturbation of 10 % at 52 km altitude and of tens of percent at 60 km altitude in coincidence of active thunderstorms, and no evident sprite global impact. Rodger et al [21] concluded that TLEs occurring below 70 km altitude exert no significant impact on the neutral chemistry at a global scale.…”

Section: Chemistry Of Thunderstorms and Transient Luminous Eventsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…We sought sprite perturbations above thunderstorms correlating MIPAS2D nighttime NO 2 with WWLLN lightning, extending [6,7]. This approach allowed us to have a search at global scale both for TLE effects and other thunderstorm impacts above the upper troposphere.…”

Section: Thunderstorm Signatures In Mipas2d Nomentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

CHIMTEA—Chemical Impact of Thunderstorms on Earth’s Atmosphere

Arnone

Dinelli

2016

Springer Earth System Sciences

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Since their accidental discovery in the 1990s, lightning-related sprites, other transient luminous events (TLEs), and terrestrial gamma-ray flashes have shown us how the impact of thunderstorms extends from the troposphere up to the upper atmosphere and ionosphere. Thunderstorms are a key player for the climate system, in particular through lightning-produced NO x and troposphere-stratosphere exchange. The CHemical Impact of Thunderstorms on Earth's Atmosphere (CHIMTEA) project focused on TLE-producing thunderstorms and their possible impact on stratospheric NO x and ozone. The distribution and seasonal cycle of thunderstorm activity were studied through global lightning data and TLE observations over Europe. Michelson Interferometer for Passive Atmosphere Sounding (MIPAS)/Environmental Satellite (ENVISAT) measurements of NO x , ozone, and other related constituents from the upper troposphere to the mesosphere were analyzed with a 2D tomographic approach to quantify thunderstorm-induced changes and explore how to improve their detectability. The study included observations from Global Ozone Monitoring by Occultation of Stars (GOMOS)/ ENVISAT, other satellites, and in situ measurements. The sensitivity of the measurements to sprite-NO x was investigated through ad hoc radiative transfer simulations quantifying reference thresholds. Global and regional observations showed sprite-NO x to be at the edge of current detectability, with no detectable impact on ozone. Model simulations were performed including for the first time a sprite-NO x parameterization in the Whole Atmosphere Community Climate Model (WACCM): it was shown that sprites may contribute significantly to tropical NO x in the middle mesosphere and reach detectable levels above particularly active thunderstorms. Extension of the adopted strategy to study lightning-NO x was recommended, whereas the modeling and multi-satellite approach was shown to be suitable in support to the upcoming space missions.

show abstract

Section: Climate-chemistry Sensitivity To Tle-no Xsupporting

confidence: 88%

Section: Thunderstorm Signatures In Mipas2d Nomentioning

confidence: 90%

Section: Chemistry Of Thunderstorms and Transient Luminous Eventsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Thunderstorm Signatures In Mipas2d Nomentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

CHIMTEA—Chemical Impact of Thunderstorms on Earth’s Atmosphere

Arnone

Dinelli

2016

Springer Earth System Sciences

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Because of the modelled much smaller impact on ozone, direct perturbations to the radiativedynamics equilibrium of the upper atmosphere can be ruled out. This was also discussed by Arnone et al (2008a) with a calculation of the maximum temperature change induced by expected maximum ozone changes of the order of 1%. In the unrealistic case of total absence of transport, they calculated a maximum temperature change of 0.3 K within the ozoneperturbed air localized above extraordinary sprite-producing thunderstorms, an impact which reduces to 0.015 K in typical cases, i.e.…”

Section: Comparing Models and Observationsmentioning

confidence: 96%

Seeking sprite-induced signatures in remotely sensed middle atmosphere NO₂: latitude and time variations

Arnone¹,

Kero²,

Enell³

et al. 2009

Plasma Sources Sci. Technol.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Recent research on sprites shows these and other transient luminous events can exert a local impact on atmospheric chemistry, although with minor effects at global scales. In particular, both modelling and remote sensing work suggest perturbations to the background NO x up to a few tens of per cent can occur above active sprite-producing thunderstorms. In this study we present a detailed investigation of MIPAS/ENVISAT satellite measurements of middle atmospheric NO 2 in regions of high likelihood of sprite occurrence during the period August to December 2003. As a proxy of sprite activity we used ground based WWLLN detections of large tropospheric thunderstorms. By investigating the sensitivity of the analysis to the characteristics of the adopted strategy, we confirm the indication of sprite-induced NO 2 enhancements of about 10% at 52 km height and tens of per cent at 60 km height immediately after thunderstorm activity, as previously reported by Arnone et al (2008b Geophys. Res. Lett. 35 5807). A further analysis showed the enhancement to be dominated by the contribution from regions north of the Equator (5 • N to 20 • N) during the first 30 to 40 days of the sample (i.e. the tail of Northern Hemisphere summer) and in coincidence with low background winds.

show abstract

WACCM climate chemistry sensitivity to sprite perturbations

et al. 2014

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Transient luminous events affect Earth's atmosphere between thunderstorm tops and the lower ionosphere through ion-neutral chemistry reactions. Particular emphasis has been given to sprites, with models and observations suggesting a capability of perturbing atmospheric nitrogen oxides at a local level, as it is known to occur for tropospheric lightning and laboratory air discharges. However, it is as yet unknown whether sprites can be a relevant source of nitrogen oxides for the upper atmosphere. In this paper, we study the sensitivity of the Whole Atmosphere Community Climate Model (WACCM) to sprite-like nitrogen oxide perturbations. We take a top-down approach to estimate what magnitude sprite perturbations should have to become significant as compared to other relevant atmospheric processes and study the sensitivity of the model response within the given uncertainties. We show that, based on current predictions by sprite streamer chemistry models, sprites can perturb Tropical NO x at 70 km altitude between 0.015 ppbv (buried in the background variability) and 0.15 ppbv (about 20%), adopting a local NO x production per sprite of 1.5 ⋅ 10 23 and 1.5 ⋅ 10 24 molecules respectively at this altitude. Below the lowest of the adopted values, sprites are irrelevant at global scales. Sprite NO x may build up to significantly larger amounts locally above active thunderstorms, further aided by other transient luminous events and possibly terrestrial gamma ray flashes. We also use model results to interpret the available observational studies and give recommendations for future campaigns.

show abstract

An estimate of the impact of transient luminous events on the atmospheric temperature

Cited by 5 publications

References 25 publications

CHIMTEA—Chemical Impact of Thunderstorms on Earth’s Atmosphere

CHIMTEA—Chemical Impact of Thunderstorms on Earth’s Atmosphere

Seeking sprite-induced signatures in remotely sensed middle atmosphere NO₂: latitude and time variations

WACCM climate chemistry sensitivity to sprite perturbations

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About

An estimate of the impact of transient luminous events on the atmospheric temperature

Cited by 5 publications

References 25 publications

CHIMTEA—Chemical Impact of Thunderstorms on Earth’s Atmosphere

CHIMTEA—Chemical Impact of Thunderstorms on Earth’s Atmosphere

Seeking sprite-induced signatures in remotely sensed middle atmosphere NO2: latitude and time variations

WACCM climate chemistry sensitivity to sprite perturbations

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About

Seeking sprite-induced signatures in remotely sensed middle atmosphere NO₂: latitude and time variations