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9 - Nitrogen processes in the atmosphere
- from Part II - Nitrogen processing in the biosphere
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- By Ole Hertel, University of Aarhus, Stefan Reis, Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Carsten Ambelas Skjøth, Aarhus University, Albert Bleeker, Energy Research Centre of the Netherlands, Roy Harrison, University of Birmingham, John Neil Cape, Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, David Fowler, Food and Rural Affairs, Kingspool, Ute Skiba, Centre fro Ecology and Hydrology, David Simpson, Norwegian Meteorological Institute, Tim Jickells, University of East Anglia, Alex Baker, University of East Anglia, Markku Kulmala, University of Helsinki, Steen Gyldenkærne, Danmarks Miljøundersøgelser, Lise Lotte Sørensen, Risø National Laboratory for Sustainable Energy, Jan Willem Erisman, Energy Research Centre of the Netherlands
- Edited by Mark A. Sutton, NERC Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, UK, Clare M. Howard, NERC Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, UK, Jan Willem Erisman, Gilles Billen, Albert Bleeker, Peringe Grennfelt, Hans van Grinsven, Bruna Grizzetti
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- Book:
- The European Nitrogen Assessment
- Published online:
- 16 May 2011
- Print publication:
- 14 April 2011, pp 177-208
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- Chapter
- Export citation
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Summary
Executive summary
Nature of the problem
The two main groups of atmospheric reactive nitrogen compounds (reduced and oxidized nitrogen) have different fates due to differences in governing processes.
Abatement strategies need to take into account these differences when assessing the impact on the sensitive ecosystems.
Approaches
The chapter outlines the governing physical and chemical processes for the two main groups of reactive nitrogen compounds.
The chapter is divided into sections concerning: emissions, transformation, aerosol processes, dry deposition and wet deposition.
Key findings/state of knowledge
Reactive nitrogen compounds consist of reduced nitrogen (ammonia and its reaction product ammonium), oxidized nitrogen (nitrogen oxides) and organic nitrogen compounds.
Nitrogen oxides have little impact close to the sources since they are emitted as nitrogen monoxide and nitrogen dioxide with low dry deposition rates. These compounds need to be converted into nitric acid (about 5% per hour) before deposition is efficient.
Ammonia has a high impact near the sources due to high dry deposition rates. Ammonia may therefore have significant impact on ecosystems in areas with intense agricultural activity leading to high emissions of ammonia.
Both ammonia and gaseous nitrogen oxides lead to formation of aerosol phase compounds (ammonium and nitrate) which are transported over long distances (up to more than 1000 km).
Very little is known either quantitatively or qualitatively about organic nitrogen compounds, other than that they can contribute a significant fraction of wet-deposited N, and are present in gaseous and particulate forms in the atmosphere.