Simulations of the Redistribution of Formaldehyde, Formic Acid, and Peroxides in the 10 July 1996 Stratospheric‐Tropospheric Experiment: Radiation, Aerosols, and Ozone Deep Convection Storm

Authors

M. C. Barth, National Center for Atmospheric Research
S.-W. Kim, National Center for Atmospheric Research
W. C. Skamarock, National Center for Atmospheric Research
Amy L. Stuart, University of South FloridaFollow
K. E. Pickering, University of Maryland
L. E. Ott, University of Maryland

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

7-2007

Keywords

Clouds and chemistry, deep convection, HOx precursors

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

https://doi.org/10.1029/2006JD008046

Abstract

By using a three‐dimensional convective cloud model to simulate the 10 July 1996, Stratospheric‐Tropospheric Experiment: Radiation, Aerosols, and Ozone‐Deep Convection experiment storm, we investigate the fate of formaldehyde (CH₂O), formic acid (HCOOH), hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), and methyl hydrogen peroxide (CH₃OOH) in an isolated thunderstorm. CH₂O, H₂O₂, and CH₃OOH are important HOx radical and ozone (O₃) precursors in the upper troposphere. Thus, determining their source strength to the upper troposphere is important for estimating O₃ production. The model simulates O₃‐NO_x‐CH₄ chemistry (no nonmethane hydrocarbon chemistry) which is affected by the cloud microphysics and production of NOx by lightning. The retention of the soluble species within ice, snow, and hail during drop freezing results in less transport of the species to the upper troposphere than when the species is degassed during drop‐freezing processes. Aqueous‐phase chemistry is found to be inadequate in producing sufficient quantities of HCOOH so that HCOOH could serve as a reliable indicator of cloud‐processed air. The production of nitrogen oxides by lightning has little to no effect on convective outflow mixing ratios of CH₂O, H₂O₂, and CH₃OOH within 100 km of the convective cores. Thus, it is unlikely that lightning affects concentrations of HO_x precursors near active convection. Scavenging of CH₂O and H₂O₂ significantly affects their concentrations in the convective outflow, although H₂O₂ mixing ratios were still similar to CH₃OOH indicating that both peroxides can contribute equally to O₃ production downwind of convection.

Rights Information

Terms of use for work posted in Scholar Commons.

Was this content written or created while at USF?

Yes

Citation / Publisher Attribution

Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres, v. 112, issue D13, art. D13310

Copyright 2007 by the American Geophysical Union.

Scholar Commons Citation

Barth, M. C.; Kim, S.-W.; Skamarock, W. C.; Stuart, Amy L.; Pickering, K. E.; and Ott, L. E., "Simulations of the Redistribution of Formaldehyde, Formic Acid, and Peroxides in the 10 July 1996 Stratospheric‐Tropospheric Experiment: Radiation, Aerosols, and Ozone Deep Convection Storm" (2007). Environmental and Occupational Health Faculty Publications. 2.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/eoh_facpub/2