Modelling atmospheric effects of electrical discharges

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Justus Notholt
• Subject Area: Atmospheric Science
• Term: from 2022 to 2023
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 496872622

Lightning is known to be an important source of nitrogen radicals in the troposphere, and this is taken into account in many atmospheric chemistry and climate chemistry models. Recent measurements have shown that there is also significant production of hydrogen radicals (HOx) in electrified clouds. This production has been attributed to weak subvisible electrical discharges. Both the formation mechanism of HOx in electrified clouds as well as the atmospheric impacts are hardly investigated. The aim of this project is to study the impacts of weak electrical discharges on reactive hydrogen species and other trace gases in the Earth's atmosphere. For this purpose, a plasma chemistry model will be used. Model simulations will be carried out for a comparison with laboratory measurements, and for an analysis of the impact of hydrometeor discharges in electrified clouds. Additionally, the model will be used to investigate the chemical effects of weak electrical discharges at higher altitudes, as there are significant discrepancy between measured and modelled HOx enhancements over active thunderstorms. Furthermore, an atmospheric chemistry and transport model will be used to study the global impact of HOx production in electrified clouds.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants