Tropospheric sources of NO(x) - Lightning and biology

Laboratory tests were performed to quantify the expected NO(x) production by lightning and biological processes. Attention was focused on energy deposition by lightning and the oxygen partial pressure of soil, and one-dimensional photochemical models were defined for the tropospheric distributions of NO and HNO3 for various NO source strengths. The Lightning Facility data were compared with air samples of N2O production gathered during over 2 yr of flights through storms. Soil NO(x) productions were studied in terms of nitrification processes involving Nitrosomonas europaea and Alcaligenes faecalis bacteria, which change ammonium to nitrite and release NO and N2O as byproducts. The results indicate that atmospheric NO(x) is generated at two tropospheric levels, with lightning and soil bacteria being significant contributors.