Hotspots of nitrogen deposition in the world’s urban areas: a global data synthesis

Details

• Journal Title:
  Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment
• Personal Author:
  Decina, Stephen M ; Hutyra, Lucy R ; Templer, Pamela H
• NOAA Program & Office:
  OAR (Oceanic and Atmospheric Research) ; CPO (Climate Program Office)
• Description:
  Human activities have altered the global nitrogen (N) cycle, elevating rates of atmospheric N deposition up to tenfold above pre-industrial levels, with consequences for ecosystem function and human health. To date, most N deposition studies have been carried out in rural areas; however, there has been a recent surge of N deposition studies conducted in urban ecosystems due to the increased recognition that humans are greatly altering the N cycle in these environments. We synthesized data from 174 publications over a period of 40 years that examined rates of N deposition in urban and nearby rural areas worldwide. Results of this meta-analysis help to quantify urban N deposition, demonstrate that total N deposition in cities is predominately composed of chemically reduced – as opposed to oxidized – forms of N like ammonia, and identify regional hotspots of urban N deposition, particularly in China. These findings highlight the need to examine and address the N cycle in cities as the world continues to urbanize.
• Keywords:
  Atmospheric Chemistry Nitrogen Atmospheric Chemistry
• Source:
  Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment 18(2):92-100
• DOI:
  https://doi.org/10.1002/fee.2143
• Document Type:
  Journal Article
• Funding:
  Grant no. NA14OAR4310179
• Rights Information:
  CC BY
• Compliance:
  Submitted
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha256:7e19ae14483f65b0f3cab32a2217eb93f9c213e1871d4710070f9d2aa1550396
• Download URL:
  https://repository.library.noaa.gov/view/noaa/45517/noaa_45517_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 3.78 MB ]