Space-borne observations link the tropical atlantic ozone maximum and paradox to lightning
[摘要] The potential enhancement of tropospheric column ozone values over theTropical Atlantic Ocean on a seasonal basis by lightning is investigated usingsatellite derived ozone data, TRMM lightning data, ozonesonde data and NCEPreanalysis during 1998-2001. Our results show that the number of lightningflashes in Africa and South America reach a maximum during September,October and November (SON). The spatial patterns of winds in combination withlightning from West Africa, Central Africa and South America is likely responsiblefor enriching middle/upper troposphere ozone over the Tropical South Atlanticduring SON. Moreover, lightning flashes are high in the hemisphere opposite tobiomass burning during December, January, and February (DJF) and June, Julyand August (JJA). This pattern leads to an enrichment of ozone in themiddle/upper troposphere in the Southern Hemisphere Tropics during DJF andthe Northern Hemisphere Tropics during JJA.During JJA the largest numbers oflightning flashes are observed in West Africa, enriching tropospheric columnozone to the north of 5
S in the absence of biomass burning.During DJF,lightning is concentrated in South America and Central Africa enrichingtropospheric column ozone south of the Equator in the absence of biomassburning.
