The nitrogen cascade

Galloway, J N; Aber, J D; Erisman, J W; Seitzinger, S P; Howarth, R W; Cowling, E B; Cosby, B J

doi:10.1641/0006-3568(2003)053[0341:TNC]2.0.CO;2

Title: The nitrogen cascade

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Abstract

Human production of food and energy is the dominant continental process that breaks the triple bond in molecular nitrogen (N{sub 2}) and creates reactive nitrogen (Nr) species. Circulation of anthropogenic Nr in Earth's atmosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere has a wide variety of consequences, which are magnified with time as Nr moves along its biogeochemical pathway. The same atom of Nr can cause multiple effects in the atmosphere, in terrestrial ecosystems, in freshwater and marine systems, and on human health. We call this sequence of effects the nitrogen cascade. As the cascade progresses, the origin of Nr becomes unimportant. Reactive nitrogen does not cascade at the same rate through all environmental systems; some systems have the ability to accumulate Nr, which leads to lag times in the continuation of the cascade. These lags slow the cascade and result in Nr accumulation in certain reservoirs, which in turn can enhance the effects of Nr on that environment. The only way to eliminate Nr accumulation and stop the cascade is to convert Nr back to nonreactive N{sub 2}.

Authors:: Galloway, J N; Aber, J D; Erisman, J W; Seitzinger, S P; Howarth, R W; Cowling, E B; Cosby, B J

Publication Date:: Tue Apr 01 00:00:00 EST 2003

OSTI Identifier:: 20712411

Resource Type:: Journal Article

Journal Name:: Bioscience

Additional Journal Information:: Journal Volume: 53; Journal Issue: 4; Journal ID: ISSN 0006-3568

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

Subject:: 54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; NITROGEN CYCLE; FERTILIZERS; EUTROPHICATION; OZONE; NITROGEN COMPOUNDS; ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS; CHEMICAL REACTIONS; BUILDUP; BIOLOGICAL ACCUMULATION; DAMAGE; FORESTS

Citation Formats


                    Galloway, J N, Aber, J D, Erisman, J W, Seitzinger, S P, Howarth, R W, Cowling, E B, and Cosby, B J. The nitrogen cascade.  United States: N. p., 2003. 
        Web.  doi:10.1641/0006-3568(2003)053[0341:TNC]2.0.CO;2.

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                    Galloway, J N, Aber, J D, Erisman, J W, Seitzinger, S P, Howarth, R W, Cowling, E B, & Cosby, B J. The nitrogen cascade.  United States.  https://doi.org/10.1641/0006-3568(2003)053[0341:TNC]2.0.CO;2

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                    Galloway, J N, Aber, J D, Erisman, J W, Seitzinger, S P, Howarth, R W, Cowling, E B, and Cosby, B J. 2003.  
        "The nitrogen cascade".  United States.  https://doi.org/10.1641/0006-3568(2003)053[0341:TNC]2.0.CO;2.

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@article{osti_20712411,

  title        = {The nitrogen cascade},

  author       = {Galloway, J N and Aber, J D and Erisman, J W and Seitzinger, S P and Howarth, R W and Cowling, E B and Cosby, B J},

  abstractNote = {Human production of food and energy is the dominant continental process that breaks the triple bond in molecular nitrogen (N{sub 2}) and creates reactive nitrogen (Nr) species. Circulation of anthropogenic Nr in Earth's atmosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere has a wide variety of consequences, which are magnified with time as Nr moves along its biogeochemical pathway. The same atom of Nr can cause multiple effects in the atmosphere, in terrestrial ecosystems, in freshwater and marine systems, and on human health. We call this sequence of effects the nitrogen cascade. As the cascade progresses, the origin of Nr becomes unimportant. Reactive nitrogen does not cascade at the same rate through all environmental systems; some systems have the ability to accumulate Nr, which leads to lag times in the continuation of the cascade. These lags slow the cascade and result in Nr accumulation in certain reservoirs, which in turn can enhance the effects of Nr on that environment. The only way to eliminate Nr accumulation and stop the cascade is to convert Nr back to nonreactive N{sub 2}.},

  doi          = {10.1641/0006-3568(2003)053[0341:TNC]2.0.CO;2},

  url          = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/20712411},
  journal      = {Bioscience},

  issn         = {0006-3568},

  number       = 4,

  volume       = 53,

  place        = {United States},

  year         = {Tue Apr 01 00:00:00 EST 2003},

  month        = {Tue Apr 01 00:00:00 EST 2003}

}

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