Abiotic Mechanism for the Formation of Atmospheric Nitrous Oxide from Ammonium Nitrate

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• 作者：Gayan Rubasinghege ; Scott N. Spak ; Charles O. Stanier ; Gregory R. Carmichael ; Vicki H. Grassian
• 刊名：Environmental Science & Technology
• 出版年：2011
• 出版时间：April 1, 2011
• 年：2011
• 卷：45
• 期：7
• 页码：2691-2697
• 全文大小：919K
• 年卷期：v.45,no.7(April 1, 2011)
• ISSN：1520-5851

文摘

Nitrous oxide (N₂O) is an important greenhouse gas and a primary cause of stratospheric ozone destruction. Despite its importance, there remain missing sources in the N₂O budget. Here we report the formation of atmospheric nitrous oxide from the decomposition of ammonium nitrate via an abiotic mechanism that is favorable in the presence of light, relative humidity and a surface. This source of N₂O is not currently accounted for in the global N₂O budget. Annual production of N₂O from atmospheric aerosols and surface fertilizer application over the continental United States from this abiotic pathway is estimated from results of an annual chemical transport simulation with the Community Multiscale Air Quality model (CMAQ). This pathway is projected to produce 9.3^+0.7/鈭?.3 Gg N₂O annually over North America. N₂O production by this mechanism is expected globally from both megacities and agricultural areas and may become more important under future projected changes in anthropogenic emissions.