Anthropogenic nitrogen emissions during the Holocene and their possible effects on remote ecosystems

0360216 - BC 2012 RIV US eng J - Journal Article
Kopáček, Jiří - Posch, M.
Anthropogenic nitrogen emissions during the Holocene and their possible effects on remote ecosystems.
Global Biogeochemical Cycles. Roč. 25, GB2017 (2011), s. 1-16. ISSN 0886-6236. E-ISSN 1944-9224
R&D Projects: GA ČR(CZ) GA526/09/0567
Grant - others:FM EHS(CZ) CZ-0051
Institutional research plan: CEZ:AV0Z60170517
Keywords : reactive nitrogen * ammonia * NOx * agriculture * livestock * biomass burning * deforestation
Subject RIV: DI - Air Pollution ; Quality
Impact factor: 4.785, year: 2011

This study estimates Nr (reactive nitrogen = NH3-N + NOx-N) emissions from anthropogenic sources on a global scale since 8000 BC. The cumulative Nr emissions are 17.4 Pg N (8.6 Pg NH3-N and 8.8 Pg NOx-N, respectively) for 8000 BC through the year 2000, with 28% of this amount emitted during 1850–2000, 42% during 1–1850, and 30% during the previous 8,000 years. Forest and savannah burning represent the major cumulative flux of both NH3-N and NOx-N (3.5 and 5.8 Pg, respectively). Livestock production and biofuel burning are responsible for emissions of 3.3 and 1.2 Pg NH3-N, respectively, while the application of synthetic fertilizers contributes 0.26 Pg NH3-N. The cumulative NOx-N emission was higher from biofuel than fossil fuel use (1.9 vs. 1.1 Pg). The majority of the total cumulative anthropogenic Nr emission over the last 10,000 years occurred in the pre-industrial period and could have increased soil N pools of some remote ecosystems much earlier than is currently assumed.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0197819