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A Multiyear Constraint on Ammonia Emissions and Deposition Within the US Corn Belt

Journal Article · · Geophysical Research Letters
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/2020GL090865· OSTI ID:1779944
 [1];  [2];  [2];  [3];  [4];  [2];  [2];  [2];  [5]
  1. College of Biology and the Environment Joint Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China Nanjing Forestry University Nanjing China, Department of Soil, Water, and Climate University of Minnesota‐Twin Cities St. Paul MN USA
  2. Department of Soil, Water, and Climate University of Minnesota‐Twin Cities St. Paul MN USA
  3. Department of Soil, Water, and Climate University of Minnesota‐Twin Cities St. Paul MN USA, United States Department of Agriculture – Agriculture Research Service St. Paul MN USA
  4. School of Natural Resources University of Missouri Columbia MO USA
  5. Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences University of Northern Iowa Cedar Falls IA USA
+ Show Author Affiliations
Abstract

The US Corn Belt is a global hotspot of atmospheric ammonia (NH 3 ), a gas known to adversely impact the environment and human health. We combine hourly tall tower (100 m) measurements and bi‐weekly, spatially distributed, ground‐based observations from the Ammonia Monitoring Network with the US National Emissions Inventory (NEI) and WRF‐Chem simulations to constrain NH 3 emissions from April to September 2017–2019. We show that: (1) NH 3 emissions peaked from May to July and were 1.6–1.7 times the annual NEI average; (2) average growing season NH 3 emissions from agricultural lands were remarkably similar across years (3.27–3.64 nmol m −2 s −1 ), yet showed substantial episodic variability driven by meteorology and land management; (3) dry deposition was 40% of gross emissions from agricultural lands and exceeded 100% of gross emissions in natural lands. Our findings provide an important benchmark for evaluating future NH 3 emissions and mitigation efforts.

Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
OSTI ID:
1779944
Journal Information:
Geophysical Research Letters, Journal Name: Geophysical Research Letters Journal Issue: 6 Vol. 48; ISSN 0094-8276
Publisher:
American Geophysical Union (AGU)Copyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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