Simulations of the redistribution of formaldehyde, formic acid, and peroxides in the 10 July 1996 Stratospheric-Tropospheric Experiment: Radiation, Aerosols, and Ozone deep convection storm

By using a three-dimensional convective cloud model to simulate the 10 July 1996, Stratospheric-Tropospheric Experiment: Radiation, Aerosols, and Ozone-Deep Convection experiment storm, we investigate the fate of formaldehyde (CH₂O), formic acid (HCOOH), hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), and methyl hydrogen peroxide (CH₃OOH) in an isolated thunderstorm. CH₂O, H₂O₂, and CH₃OOH are important HO x radical and ozone (O₃) precursors in the upper troposphere.

Thus, determining their source strength to the upper troposphere is important for estimating O₃ production. The model simulates O₃-NO x -CH₄ chemistry (no nonmethane hydrocarbon chemistry) which is affected by the cloud microphysics and production of NO x by lightning. The retention of the soluble species within ice, snow, and hail during drop freezing results in less transport of the species to the upper troposphere than when the species is degassed during drop-freezing processes.