Linking Ammonia Emission Trends to Measured Concentrations and Deposition of Reduced Nitrogen at Different Scales

Bleeker, A.; Sutton, M. A.; Acherman, Beat; Alebić-Juretić, Ana; Aneja, Viney P.; Ellermann, Thomas; Fowler, D.; Fagerli, Hilde; Gauger, Thomas; Harlen, Karen S.; Hole, Lars Robert; Horváth, László; Mitosinkova, Marta; Smith, R. I.; Tang, Sim; Pul, Addo van

doi:10.1007/978-1-4020-9121-6_11

Cited by 36 publications

(52 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…Although NH + 4 dry deposits at the surface, the primary removal mechanism for NH + 4 is thought to be through scavenging of PM by cloud and rain, leading to wet deposition of NH + 4 (Smith et al, 2000). Characterizing the relationship between NH 3 emissions and the formation of PM is, however, not straightforward; an increase in NH 3 emissions does not automatically translate into a proportionate increase in NH + 4 (Bleeker et al, 2009). The relationship depends on climate and meteorology as well as the concentration of other precursors to PM formation such as SO 2 and NO x .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Drivers for spatial, temporal and long-term trends in atmospheric ammonia and ammonium in the UK

et al. 2018

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Abstract. A unique long-term dataset from the UK National Ammonia Monitoring Network (NAMN) is used here to assess spatial, seasonal and long-term variability in atmospheric ammonia (NH 3 : 1998(NH 3 : -2014) and particulate ammonium (NH + 4 : 1999-2014) across the UK. Extensive spatial heterogeneity in NH 3 concentrations is observed, with lowest annual mean concentrations at remote sites (< 0.2 µg m −3 ) and highest in the areas with intensive agriculture (up to 22 µg m −3 ), while NH + 4 concentrations show less spatial variability (e.g. range of 0.14 to 1.8 µg m −3 annual mean in 2005). Temporally, NH 3 concentrations are influenced by environmental conditions and local emission sources. In particular, peak NH 3 concentrations are observed in summer at background sites (defined by 5 km grid average NH 3 emissions < 1 kg N ha −1 yr −1 ) and in areas dominated by sheep farming, driven by increased volatilization of NH 3 in warmer summer temperatures. In areas where cattle, pig and poultry farming is dominant, the largest NH 3 concentrations are in spring and autumn, matching periods of manure application to fields. By contrast, peak concentrations of NH + 4 aerosol occur in spring, associated with long-range transboundary sources. An estimated decrease in NH 3 emissions by 16 % between 1998 and 2014 was reported by the UK National Atmospheric Emissions Inventory. Annually averaged NH 3 data from NAMN sites operational over the same period (n = 59) show an indicative downward trend, although the reduction in NH 3 concentrations is smaller and nonsignificant: Mann-Kendall (MK), −6.3 %; linear regression (LR), −3.1 %. In areas dominated by pig and poultry farming, a significant reduction in NH 3 concentrations between 1998 and 2014 (MK: −22 %; LR: −21 %, annually averaged NH 3 ) is consistent with, but not as large as the decrease in estimated NH 3 emissions from this sector over the same period (−39 %). By contrast, in cattle-dominated areas there is a slight upward trend (non-significant) in NH 3 concentrations (MK: +12 %; LR: +3.6 %, annually averaged NH 3 ), despite the estimated decline in NH 3 emissions from this sector since 1998 (−11 %). At background and sheep-dominated sites, NH 3 concentrations increased over the monitoring period. These increases (non-significant) at background (MK: +17 %; LR: +13 %, annually averaged data) and sheep-dominated sites (MK: +15 %; LR: +19 %, annually averaged data) would be consistent with the concomitant reduction in SO 2 emissions over the same period, leading to a longer atmospheric lifetime of NH 3 , thereby increasing NH 3 concentrations in remote areas. The observations for NH 3 concentrations not decreasing as fast as estimated emission trends are consistent with a larger downward trend in annual particulate NH + 4 concentrations (1999-2014: MK: −47 %; LR: −49 %, p < 0.01, n = 23), associated with a lower formation of particulate NH

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Drivers for spatial, temporal and long-term trends in atmospheric ammonia and ammonium in the UK

et al. 2018

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“…Horvath and Sutton, 1998;Sutton et al, 2003), and a recent assessment by Bleeker et al (2009) concluded that the trend in reductions in ammonia emission in the Netherlands is supported by the measurements, though debate remains concerning the absolute magnitude of emissions. For the US, the overall increase in ammonia emissions is matched by major regional increases, especially in the Midwest , based on Lehman et al, 2007 and in the Eastern US (Bleeker et al, 2009). With only a few data points available for China, it is yet evident that emissions are estimated to be about two to three times higher than European or US emissions in this period.…”

Section: Trend Analysismentioning

confidence: 97%

“…In Europe there has been substantial debate as to whether estimated emission trends are verified by measurements (e.g. Horvath and Sutton, 1998;Sutton et al, 2003), and a recent assessment by Bleeker et al (2009) concluded that the trend in reductions in ammonia emission in the Netherlands is supported by the measurements, though debate remains concerning the absolute magnitude of emissions. For the US, the overall increase in ammonia emissions is matched by major regional increases, especially in the Midwest , based on Lehman et al, 2007 and in the Eastern US (Bleeker et al, 2009).…”

Section: Trend Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Only if inventories reflect the current state-of-the-art of research can validation and verification experiments, comparing model calculations with observations on different spatial scales (e.g. Bleeker et al, 2009;Bergamaschi et al 2005;Henze et al, 2008) deliver meaningful results towards a better understanding of the processes through which reactive and non-reactive nitrogen species contribute to air pollution and climate change. In addition, a fully quantified nitrogen cycle is a key requirement for the design of intelligent and effective management options towards reducing the negative impacts of N along the full nitrogen cascade.…”

Section: Future Research Needsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Reactive nitrogen in atmospheric emission inventories

et al. 2009

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Abstract. Excess reactive Nitrogen (Nr) has become one of the most pressing environmental problems leading to air pollution, acidification and eutrophication of ecosystems, biodiversity impacts, leaching of nitrates into groundwater and global warming. This paper investigates how current inventories cover emissions of Nr to the atmosphere in Europe, the United States of America, and China. The focus is on anthropogenic sources, assessing the state-of-the-art of quantifying emissions of Ammonia (NH 3 ), Nitrogen Oxides (NO x ) and Nitrous Oxide (N 2 O), the different purposes for which inventories are compiled, and to which extent current inventories meet the needs of atmospheric dispersion modelling. The paper concludes with a discussion of uncertainties involved and a brief outlook on emerging trends in the three regions investigated is conducted.Key issues are substantial differences in the overall magnitude, but as well in the relative sectoral contribution of emissions in the inventories that have been assessed. While these can be explained by the use of different methodologies and underlying data (e.g. emission factors or activity rates), they may lead to quite different results when using the emission datasets to model ambient air quality or the deposition with atmospheric dispersion models. Hence, differences and uncertainties in emission inventories are not merely of academic interest, but can have direct policy implications when the development of policy actions is based on these model results.The level of uncertainty of emission estimates varies greatly between substances, regions and emission source sectors. This has implications for the direction of future research needs and indicates how existing gaps between modelled and measured concentration or deposition rates could be most efficiently addressed.Correspondence to: S. Reis (srei@ceh.ac.uk)The observed current trends in emissions display decreasing NO x emissions and only slight reductions for NH 3 in both Europe and the US. However, in China projections indicate a steep increase of both.

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“…The uncertainties in these trends, including the small response of NH 3 concentrations to reduced animal numbers in central Europe (Horvath and Sutton, 1998) and to emission abatement policies in the Netherlands and Denmark (Bjerregaard, 2011;Bleeker and Sutton, 2006;Erisman et al, 1998;Skjøth et al, 2008;Sutton et al, 2003) have been a major topic of debate. The recent evidence (Bleeker et al, 2009;Horvath et al, 2009) indicates that increasing NH 3 concentrations in Eastern Europe were due to a reduction in SO 2 emissions (resulting in longer atmospheric lifetime of NH 3 ) a factor which also influenced the NH 3 trends in the Netherlands, Denmark and elsewhere. The observed trends in NH 3 concentrations are therefore a result of changes in atmospheric chemistry as well as changes in NH 3 emissions.…”

Section: Long-term Trendsmentioning

confidence: 99%