A model study of the plasma chemistry of stratospheric Blue Jets

A numerical plasma chemistry model has been used to simulate the chemical processes in stratospheric Blue Jets. It was applied to Blue Jet streamers in the altitude range 18-38 km. Additionally, the chemical processes in the leader part of a Blue Jet have been simulated for the first time. The model results indicate that there is considerable impact on nitrogen species and ozone. The chemical effects of the streamers predicted by our model are by orders of magnitude larger than in previous model studies. In the leader channel, driven by high-temperature reactions, the concentration of N2O and NO increases by several orders of magnitude, and there is a significant depletion of ozone. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.