Effect of variable energy input on nitrogen fixation in instantaneous linear discharges

Abstract

ATMOSPHERIC nitrogen oxides are a central issue in the photochemistry of the troposphere, stratosphere and urban atmosphere. The removal of nitrogen oxides by precipitation is a source of fixed nitrogen to the biosphere. Thus the nitrogen fixation rate by natural and anthropogenic discharges is of wide concern^1–8. While it is generally assumed that P, the molecules of NO produced per joule of discharge, is independent of the input energy, the analysis reported here implies that P does vary with input energy. Thus care must be taken when extrapolating NO yields from small laboratory sparks to more energetic processes of potential geochemical significance. Although the calculations assume a cylindrical symmetry appropriate for a linear discharge, the results are consistent with equivalent calculations using spherical symmetry.