Current estimates of reactive nitrogen (Nr) creation by lightning

Range 3 - 10 Tg N/yr
Organism Biosphere
Reference Galloway et al., Nitrogen Cycles: Past, Present, and Future, Biogeochemistry September 2004, Volume 70, Issue 2, pp 153-226 p.158 3rd paragraph
Primary Source Prather M., Ehalt D., Dentener F., Derwent R., Dlugokencky E., Holland E., Isaksen I., Katima J., Kirchhoff V., Matson P., Midgley P. and Wang M. 2001. Atmospheric chemistry and greenhouse gases. In: Houghton J.T., Ding Y., Griggs D.J., Noguer M., van der Linden P.J., Dai X., Maskell K. and Johnson C.A. (eds), Climate change 2001: the scientific basis. Third Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, NY.
Comments "High temperatures occurring in lightning strikes produce NO in the atmosphere from molecular oxygen and nitrogen. Subsequently this NO is oxidized to NO2 and then to HNO3 and quickly (i.e., days) removed by wet and dry deposition thus introducing Nr into ecosystems primarily over tropical continents. Most current estimates of Nr creation by lightning range between 3 and 10 Tg N/yr (primary source)."
Entered by Uri M
ID 110431