Spatial variability of lightning intensity over the Mediterranean sea correlates with seawater properties

Mustafa Asfur, Colin Price, Yoav Yair, Jacob Silverman

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

3 Scopus citations

Abstract

The divergence of total alkalinity (TA) from conservation with salinity (S) and relatively acidic conditions (pH) in surface seawater was suggested to explain the high prevalence of lightning superbolts in the Mediterranean sea, North sea and upwelling regions of the oceans. In this study we tested the combined effects of changes in S, TA and pH of Mediterranean sea surface water on the intensity of laboratory generated electrical sparks, which are considered to be analogous to cloud to sea-surface intensity of lightning discharges. The experimental results were used to develop a multivariate linear equation (MLE) of Lightning Flash Intensity (LFI) as a function of S, TA/S and pH. This relation was validated with wintertime (DJF) LFI measurements along a Mediterranean sea zonal profile during the period 2009–2020 compared to corresponding climate model outputs of S, TA and pH. Based on the resulting MLE, the combined effects of climate change, ocean acidification and the damming of the Nile, may have increased LFI in the Levantine Sea by 16 ± 14% until now relative to the pre-Aswan Dam period. Furthermore, assuming that salinization and acidification of the Levantine Sea will continue at current trends, the LFI is predicted to increase by 25 ± 13% by the year 2050.

Original languageEnglish
Article number5834
JournalScientific Reports
Volume13
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 10 Apr 2023
Externally publishedYes

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2023, The Author(s).

Funding

The authors would like to thank the technical team at the Ruppin academic center Mr. Yosi Moas and Mr. Asher Azoli. Special thanks to Dani Ramot (Fritzi) from IOLR for his invaluable help with the electronical aspects of the experimental setup, and to Deborah Burd-Vilanova from IOLR for her laboratory analysis of seawater samples. This work was supported by the Research Authority Ruppin academic center. The authors would like to thank the technical team at the Ruppin academic center Mr. Yosi Moas and Mr. Asher Azoli. Special thanks to Dani Ramot (Fritzi) from IOLR for his invaluable help with the electronical aspects of the experimental setup, and to Deborah Burd-Vilanova from IOLR for her laboratory analysis of seawater samples. This work was supported by the Research Authority Ruppin academic center.

FundersFunder number
IOLR
Research Authority Ruppin academic center

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