Extreme hydroxyl amounts generated by thunderstorm-induced corona on grounded metal objects

Atmospheric electrical discharges are now known to generate unexpectedly large amounts of the atmosphere's primary oxidant, hydroxyl (OH), in thunderstorm anvils, where electrical discharges are caused by atmospheric charge separation. The question is Do other electrical discharges also generate large amounts of oxidants? In this paper, we demonstrate that corona formed on grounded metal objects under thunderstorms produce extreme amounts of OH, hydroperoxyl (HO2), and ozone (O-3). Hundreds of parts per trillion to parts per billion of OH and HO2 were measured during seven thunderstorms that passed over the rooftop site during an air quality study in Houston, TX in summer 2006. A combination of analysis of these field results and laboratory experiments shows that these extreme oxidant amounts were generated by corona on the inlet of the OH-measuring instrument and that corona are easier to generate on lightning rods than on the inlet. In the laboratory, increasing the electric field increased OH, HO2, and O-3, with 14 times more O-3 generated than OH and HO2, which were equal. Calculations show that corona on lightning rods can annually generate OH that is 10-100 times ambient amounts within centimeters of the lightning rod and on high-voltage electrical power lines can generate OH that is 500 times ambient a meter away from the corona. Contrary to current thinking, previously unrecognized corona-generated OH, not corona-generated UV radiation, mostly likely initiates premature degradation of high-voltage polymer insulators.

Automated summary

Atmospheric electrical discharges, specifically corona formed on grounded metal objects under thunderstorms, generate significant amounts of OH, HO2, and O-3. Field measurements and laboratory experiments show that corona on lightning rods and high-voltage power lines can produce concentrations of OH that are significantly higher than ambient levels.