Atmospheric reactive nitrogen: A model study of natural and anthropogenic sources and the role of microbial soil emissions

Conference · Sat Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1992

OSTI ID:5387719

Dignon, J; Penner, J E; Atherton, C S; Walton, J J

Nitrogen oxides (NO{sub x} = NO + NO{sub 2}) are primary pollutants which react in the atmosphere to form nitric acid (HNO{sub 3}). Nitric acid is a major contributor to acid wet and dry deposition and can also affect the reactive nitrogen nutrients in soil and ocean ecosystems. In addition, NO{sub x} takes part in the photochemical cycle of ozone (O{sub 3}). Tropospheric O{sub 3} is important from both an atmospheric and a biological perspective. It acts as a greenhouse gas warming the earth's surface and as a chemical oxidant which can cause injury to humans, plants, and animals. Anthropogenic sources including 22 Tg N from fossil fuel burning and 5-13 Tg N from biomass burning constitute the largest contribution (Tg=10{sup 12}g). Less is understood abut the natural sources of NO{sub x} and in particular the emissions from microbial activity in soils. Here we present a model calculated, seasonally and spatially resolved (1 {times} 1 degree), inventory of the annual soil emissions of NO{sub x} from microbial activity from natural vegetation ecosystems. The soil emissions model addresses the emissions of soils from the natural vegetation types. Emissions from soil microbial activity have been shown to be temperature and moisture dependent.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Livermore National Lab., CA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: DOE; USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• OSTI ID: 5387719
• Report Number(s): UCRL-JC-107393; CONF-911212--1; ON: DE92010717
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540210* -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Basic Studies-- (1990-)
58 GEOSCIENCES
580000 -- Geosciences
AIR POLLUTION
ATMOSPHERIC CHEMISTRY
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMISTRY
CLIMATIC CHANGE
ECOSYSTEMS
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
GREENHOUSE GASES
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MICROORGANISMS
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NITROGEN CYCLE
NITROGEN OXIDES
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
SOIL CHEMISTRY
SOILS