Journal of Atmospheric Chemistry 10: 83-96, 1990. 8 3 © 1990 Kluwer Academic' Publishers. Printed in the Netherlands. An Evaluation of Lightning and Corona Discharge on Thunderstorm Air and Precipitation Chemistry D.L. SISTERSON Environmental Research Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, 1L 60439, U.S.A. and Y. P. L1AW Physics Department, North Central College, Naperville, IL 60566, U.S.A. (Received: 5 July 1989) Abstract. This study synthesizes literature to provide a best estimate for the integrated effect of cloud-to-ground lightning, intracloud lightning, and corona discharge on air and precipitation chemistry for an idealized thunderstorm. The cloud volume concentration of NO (the predominant chemical species produced by lightning), assuming all flashes occurred simultaneously in an un- diluted, idealized storm volume of 1.5 × 10 3 km3, is approximately 0.8 ppbv at STP. Uncertain- ties are discussed, and assumptions used in this estimate are evaluated and compared to the literature for consistency. Also, NO production values (an average of field, theoretical, and laboratory observations) are used to scale theoretical estimates of other chemical species produced by lightning that can be scavenged by precipitation. The maximum concentrations of these pollutants in rain water are estimated by assuming complete removal of these select, acid rain related species and found to be insignificant. Key words. Atmospheric lightning chemistry, corona discharge chemistry, acid rain, thunderstorm chemical budgets, global N budgets, natural sources of air pollutants. 1. Introduction Lightning and corona discharge associated with thunderstorms produce a variety of nitrogen, oxygen, and hydrogen compounds whose presence can complicate interpretation of chemical and physical processes in and near thunderstorms. For example, enriched concentrations of NOx found inside thunderstorm anvils have been attributed to lightning (e.g., Dickerson et al., 1987; Chameides et al., 1987). Lightning and corona production of O3 and H202 (e.g., Bhetanabhotla et al., 1985) might be indirectly important in acid rain research, as in the liquid- phase oxidation of SO2 to sulfuric acid (e.g., Schwartz, 1984). Although sev- eral observations of increased NO_,- and other species have been attributed to lightning, actual estimates based on the contribution of lightning and corona discharge to thunderstorm-scale air and precipitation chemistry have not been addressed.