It has been estimated that from 30 to 50 percent of the nitrogen oxides present in rainfall are produced by lightning and that globally 30 million tons of fixed nitrogen are produced in this manner each year.
Ir aprēķināts, ka zibens izlādes rada 30 līdz 50 procentus slāpekļa oksīdu, kas sasniedz zemi kopā ar lietu, un ka šādā veidā ik gadus organiskos savienojumos tiek iesaistīts 30 miljoni tonnu slāpekļa.