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Acceleration of global N2O emissions seen from two decades of atmospheric inversion

Author

Listed:
  • R. L. Thompson

    (Norsk Institutt for Luftforskning)

  • L. Lassaletta

    (Universidad Politécnica de Madrid)

  • P. K. Patra

    (Research Institute for Global Change, JAMSTEC)

  • C. Wilson

    (University of Leeds
    University of Leeds)

  • K. C. Wells

    (University of Minnesota)

  • A. Gressent

    (Massachusetts Institute of Technology)

  • E. N. Koffi

    (European Commission Joint Research Centre)

  • M. P. Chipperfield

    (University of Leeds
    University of Leeds)

  • W. Winiwarter

    (International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis
    University of Zielona Góra)

  • E. A. Davidson

    (University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science)

  • H. Tian

    (Auburn University)

  • J. G. Canadell

    (Global Carbon Project, CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere)

Abstract

Nitrous oxide (N2O) is the third most important long-lived GHG and an important stratospheric ozone depleting substance. Agricultural practices and the use of N-fertilizers have greatly enhanced emissions of N2O. Here, we present estimates of N2O emissions determined from three global atmospheric inversion frameworks during the period 1998–2016. We find that global N2O emissions increased substantially from 2009 and at a faster rate than estimated by the IPCC emission factor approach. The regions of East Asia and South America made the largest contributions to the global increase. From the inversion-based emissions, we estimate a global emission factor of 2.3 ± 0.6%, which is significantly larger than the IPCC Tier-1 default for combined direct and indirect emissions of 1.375%. The larger emission factor and accelerating emission increase found from the inversions suggest that N2O emission may have a nonlinear response at global and regional scales with high levels of N-input.

Suggested Citation

  • R. L. Thompson & L. Lassaletta & P. K. Patra & C. Wilson & K. C. Wells & A. Gressent & E. N. Koffi & M. P. Chipperfield & W. Winiwarter & E. A. Davidson & H. Tian & J. G. Canadell, 2019. "Acceleration of global N2O emissions seen from two decades of atmospheric inversion," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 9(12), pages 993-998, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcli:v:9:y:2019:i:12:d:10.1038_s41558-019-0613-7
    DOI: 10.1038/s41558-019-0613-7
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    Cited by:

    1. Xiaoxuan Su & Leyang Yang & Kai Yang & Yijia Tang & Teng Wen & Yingmu Wang & Matthias C. Rillig & Lena Rohe & Junliang Pan & Hu Li & Yong-guan Zhu, 2022. "Estuarine plastisphere as an overlooked source of N2O production," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-12, December.
    2. Aurélien Saghaï & Grace Pold & Christopher M. Jones & Sara Hallin, 2023. "Phyloecology of nitrate ammonifiers and their importance relative to denitrifiers in global terrestrial biomes," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-13, December.
    3. Louise B. Sennett & Constance A. Roco & Natalie Y. N. Lim & Joseph B. Yavitt & Peter Dörsch & Lars R. Bakken & James P. Shapleigh & Åsa Frostegård, 2024. "Determining how oxygen legacy affects trajectories of soil denitrifier community dynamics and N2O emissions," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-13, December.
    4. Ahmed Mosa & Mostafa M. Mansour & Enas Soliman & Ayman El-Ghamry & Mohamed El Alfy & Ahmed M. El Kenawy, 2023. "Biochar as a Soil Amendment for Restraining Greenhouse Gases Emission and Improving Soil Carbon Sink: Current Situation and Ways Forward," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-26, January.
    5. Yunpeng Qiu & Yi Zhang & Kangcheng Zhang & Xinyu Xu & Yunfeng Zhao & Tongshuo Bai & Yexin Zhao & Hao Wang & Xiongjie Sheng & Sean Bloszies & Christopher J. Gillespie & Tangqing He & Yang Wang & Huaiha, 2024. "Intermediate soil acidification induces highest nitrous oxide emissions," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-12, December.
    6. Katarzyna Wolny-Koładka & Renata Jarosz & Michał Juda & Monika Mierzwa-Hersztek, 2022. "Distinct Changes in Abundance of Culturable Microbial Community and Respiration Activities in Response to Mineral–Organic Mixture Application in Contaminated Soil," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(22), pages 1-16, November.
    7. Alves, Luís & Holz, Laura I.V. & Fernandes, Celina & Ribeirinha, Paulo & Mendes, Diogo & Fagg, Duncan P. & Mendes, Adélio, 2022. "A comprehensive review of NOx and N2O mitigation from industrial streams," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 155(C).
    8. Felizitas Winkhart & Thomas Mösl & Harald Schmid & Kurt-Jürgen Hülsbergen, 2022. "Effects of Organic Maize Cropping Systems on Nitrogen Balances and Nitrous Oxide Emissions," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-30, June.
    9. Javier Martínez-Dalmau & Julio Berbel & Rafaela Ordóñez-Fernández, 2021. "Nitrogen Fertilization. A Review of the Risks Associated with the Inefficiency of Its Use and Policy Responses," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-15, May.
    10. E. Harris & L. Yu & Y-P. Wang & J. Mohn & S. Henne & E. Bai & M. Barthel & M. Bauters & P. Boeckx & C. Dorich & M. Farrell & P. B. Krummel & Z. M. Loh & M. Reichstein & J. Six & M. Steinbacher & N. S., 2022. "Warming and redistribution of nitrogen inputs drive an increase in terrestrial nitrous oxide emission factor," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-16, December.
    11. Magda Monteiro & Marco Costa, 2023. "Change Point Detection by State Space Modeling of Long-Term Air Temperature Series in Europe," Stats, MDPI, vol. 6(1), pages 1-18, January.

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