EVALUATING OF THE FEEDBACKS BETWEEN LIGHTNING ACTIVITY AND ATMOSPHERIC COMPOSITION CHANGES FOR MESOSCALE NUMERICAL MODEL

We have implemented the WRF-Chem model parameterizations for lightning flash rate using prescribed IC:CG ratios and the associated resolution dependency by Price and Rind (1992, 1994), which are based on cloud ? top height. In our implementation, the cloud-top height is estimated by the level of neutral buoyancy (LNB). Scaling for resolution dependency may be performed by areal ratio against a base-case resolution, defined as that producing 1 storm per grid within the domain of interest (15 km grid spacing in this study). Upper troposphere/lower stratosphere is sensitive to changes of NOx concentrations. NO and NOx initial mixing ratios are relatively high near the surface, low in the mid troposphere and moderately hight in the UTLS.