Seeking sprite-induced signatures in remotely sensed middle atmosphere NO(2)
Year: 2008
Authors: Arnone E., Kero A., Dinelli B. M., Enell C.-F., Arnold N. F., Papandrea E., Rodger Craig J., Carlotti M., Ridolfi M., Turunen E.
Autors Affiliation: Univ Bologna, Dipartimento Chim Fis & Inorgan, I-40136 Bologna, Italy
Univ Leicester, Dept Phys & Astron, Leicester LE1 7RH, Leics, England
CNR, Ist Sci Atmosfera & Clima, I-40129 Bologna, Italy
Univ Oulu, FI-99600 Sodankyla, Finland
Univ Otago, Dept Phys, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand
Abstract: The local chemical impact of sprites is investigated for the first time. This study is motivated by the current understanding of the streamer nature of sprites: streamers are known to produce NO(x), thus sprites are expected to lead to a local enhancement of the background abundances, and possibly impact ozone. We adopted the following strategy: middle atmosphere MIPAS/GMTR NO(2) satellite measurements were correlated with ground-based WWLLN detections of large tropospheric thunderstorms as a proxy for sprite activity. We found no evidence of any significant impact at a global scale, but an indication of a possible sprite induced NO2 enhancement of about 10% at 52 km height in correspondence with active thunderstorms. This local enhancement appears to increase with height from a few percent at 47 km to tens of percent at 60 km.
Journal/Review: GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS
Volume: 35 (5) Pages from: L05807-1 to: L05807
KeyWords: LOCATION NETWORK WWLLNDOI: 10.1029/2007GL031791