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Important contributions of non-fossil fuel nitrogen oxides emissions

Author

Listed:
  • Wei Song

    (School of Earth System Science, Tianjin University)

  • Xue-Yan Liu

    (School of Earth System Science, Tianjin University)

  • Chao-Chen Hu

    (School of Earth System Science, Tianjin University)

  • Guan-Yi Chen

    (Georgia Tech Shenzhen Institute, Tianjin University)

  • Xue-Jun Liu

    (College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural University)

  • Wendell W. Walters

    (Institute at Brown for Environment and Society, Brown University)

  • Greg Michalski

    (Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences, Purdue University)

  • Cong-Qiang Liu

    (School of Earth System Science, Tianjin University)

Abstract

Since the industrial revolution, it has been assumed that fossil-fuel combustions dominate increasing nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions. However, it remains uncertain to the actual contribution of the non-fossil fuel NOx to total NOx emissions. Natural N isotopes of NO3− in precipitation (δ15Nw-NO3−) have been widely employed for tracing atmospheric NOx sources. Here, we compiled global δ15Nw-NO3− observations to evaluate the relative importance of fossil and non-fossil fuel NOx emissions. We found that regional differences in human activities directly influenced spatial-temporal patterns of δ15Nw-NO3− variations. Further, isotope mass-balance and bottom-up calculations suggest that the non-fossil fuel NOx accounts for 55 ± 7% of total NOx emissions, reaching up to 21.6 ± 16.6Mt yr−1 in East Asia, 7.4 ± 5.5Mt yr−1 in Europe, and 21.8 ± 18.5Mt yr−1 in North America, respectively. These results reveal the importance of non-fossil fuel NOx emissions and provide direct evidence for making strategies on mitigating atmospheric NOx pollution.

Suggested Citation

  • Wei Song & Xue-Yan Liu & Chao-Chen Hu & Guan-Yi Chen & Xue-Jun Liu & Wendell W. Walters & Greg Michalski & Cong-Qiang Liu, 2021. "Important contributions of non-fossil fuel nitrogen oxides emissions," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-7, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:12:y:2021:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-020-20356-0
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-20356-0
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    Cited by:

    1. Maoyuan Feng & Shushi Peng & Yilong Wang & Philippe Ciais & Daniel S. Goll & Jinfeng Chang & Yunting Fang & Benjamin Z. Houlton & Gang Liu & Yan Sun & Yi Xi, 2023. "Overestimated nitrogen loss from denitrification for natural terrestrial ecosystems in CMIP6 Earth System Models," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-9, December.

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