David M. Romps, Jacob T. Seeley, David Vollaro, John Molinari: Projected increase in lightning strikes in the United States due to global warming, Science 14 November 2014: Vol. 346 no. 6211 pp. 851-854 DOI: 10.1126/science.1259100 These authors predict global warming will cause more water vapor which will cause 50% more lightning strikes by end of this century. It is probably too much to hope for -- but could this effect SAVE us? To explain, it is believed that a substantial part of fixed nitrogen comes from lightning generating NOx which rain washes down to the ground. This is why rainwater is better for agriculture than tap water. The other main ways nitrogen is fixed are by microbes and by human activity making fertilizers. It would be good to know what percentages are contributed by these 3 causes. I have seen quite widely differing unsourced claims about that. It is well known nitrogen shortage is one of the biggest limiting factors for plant growth. Anyhow, my point is, with more lightning there will be more nitrogen available for plants hence more plant growth. This will use up CO2. Thus this whole effect is a negative feedback "thermostat" which, to the extent it works, helps stabilize global temperature. I am somewhat skeptical this will be enough to save us from global warming, but it's an interesting idea which might be new. -- Warren D. Smith http://RangeVoting.org <-- add your endorsement (by clicking "endorse" as 1st step)