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How much does lightning contribute to pollution and global warming?

Posted May 01, 2007 9:49 AM

From What's Next In Science & Technology:

Lightning is more than light and noise: It's an intense chemical factory that affects both local air quality and global climate. But how big is the effect? Researchers aren't sure. To answer the question they're developing a new technique to estimate the factory's output. "Atmospheric chemists are very interested in trace gases produced by lightning, particularly nitrogen oxides ('NOx' for short)," explains William Koshak, a lightning researcher at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center. NOx includes nitric oxide (NO), a toxic air pollutant produced by automobile engines and power plants, and nitrogen dioxide (NO2), a poisonous reddish-brown gas with a sharp odor.

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Guru
Popular Science - Weaponology - Scapolie, new member.

Join Date: Jan 2007
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#1

Re: How much does lightning contribute to pollution and global warming?

05/02/2007 6:38 AM

Hi nighthawk. Lightning strikes produce most of the atmosphreric ozone, this ozone then protects us from harmfull UV radiation. Spencer.

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Guru
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#2

Re: How much does lightning contribute to pollution and global warming?

05/02/2007 6:42 AM

Nothing.

It has always been there and will always be present.

Another negationists view on human influence.

If lightning would create some pollutive substances from what we trhow in the air, it is not lightning to blame.

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Power-User

Join Date: Jun 2006
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#3
In reply to #2

Re: How much does lightning contribute to pollution and global warming?

05/29/2007 2:30 PM

"negationists"?

Good grief. A person can't even ask a question about global warming without being called names. Whatever happened to open inquiry?

Bill Morrow

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Guru
Belgium - Member - New Member APIX Pilot Plant Design Project - Member - New Member

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#4
In reply to #3

Re: How much does lightning contribute to pollution and global warming?

05/30/2007 2:06 AM

There is a difference between free and open inquiry and the continuous attack of conservative lobbies on the idea that human is to blame for what goes wrong with the climate.

Even if lightning does produce high volumes of toxic and harmfully substances, and I really believe that this is true, it is not lightning to blame.

That is my personal opinion.

But my personal opinion is that lightning is one of the sources of life and that we would never have reached the actual position without. (would we know fire?)

But here we go again: creationists all over the world, let's start the discussion.

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Power-User

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#5
In reply to #4

Re: How much does lightning contribute to pollution and global warming?

05/30/2007 3:30 PM

"creationists"?

There you go again. It is easier to call people names than to have a legitimate discussion. Pigeonhole someone, then you don't have to engage them.

I have been studying the IPCC Fourth Assessment Report for weeks. But I still have some questions about some points I don't understand. Does that make me negationist creationist?

Bill Morrow

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