Variability, drivers, and effects of atmospheric nitrogen inputs across an urban area: Emerging patterns among human activities, the atmosphere, and soils

Decina, S.; Templer, Pamela H.; Hutyra, Lucy R.; Gately, C.; Rao, Preeti

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.07.166

Cited by 67 publications

(49 citation statements)

References 68 publications

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“…Because NH 3 is highly soluble in water and has a high deposition velocity, vehicle-emitted NH 3 is likely to be locally deposited close to its source, as has been demonstrated in roadside studies (Cape et al 2004;Kirchner et al 2005;Bettez et al 2013). Our own recent study in Boston, Massachusetts, revealed positive relationships between local vehicular traffic intensity, NO x and NH 3 emissions from vehicles, and deposition of N locally (Decina et al 2017). The elevated deposition of reduced N compounds, combined with the lack of regulation on the emissions that produce these compounds, presents an opportunity for policy makers to reduce urban N pollution.…”

Section: Reviewssupporting

confidence: 53%

“…Our own recent study in Boston, Massachusetts, revealed positive relationships between local vehicular traffic intensity, NO x and NH 3 emissions from vehicles, and deposition of N locally (Decina et al . ). The elevated deposition of reduced N compounds, combined with the lack of regulation on the emissions that produce these compounds, presents an opportunity for policy makers to reduce urban N pollution.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 97%

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

Decina

Hutyra

Templer

2019

Frontiers in Ecol & Environ

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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.

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Section: Reviewssupporting

confidence: 53%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 97%

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

Decina

Hutyra

Templer

2019

Frontiers in Ecol & Environ

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“…However, the regional-scale deposition model used in their study (ClimCalc;Ollinger et al, 1993) did not discern this fine scale variation in deposition, and the model indicated that NO 3 -N deposition was much higher than NH 4 -N deposition, presumably because the model doesn't account for onroad emissions of NH 3 . Similarly, Decina et al (2017) reported that NH 4 -N deposition comprised 75% of N deposition across the urban area of Boston, that NH 4 -N deposition rates were correlated with NH 3 emissions and proximity to roads, and that NH 4 -N deposition inputs were highest in spring. It was postulated that volatilization and re-deposition of fertilizer is the likely source of the springtime NH 4 -N deposition spike (Decina et al, 2017).…”

Section: Bulk and Throughfall Deposition In Urban-affected Regionsmentioning

confidence: 89%

“…Similarly, Decina et al (2017) reported that NH 4 -N deposition comprised 75% of N deposition across the urban area of Boston, that NH 4 -N deposition rates were correlated with NH 3 emissions and proximity to roads, and that NH 4 -N deposition inputs were highest in spring. It was postulated that volatilization and re-deposition of fertilizer is the likely source of the springtime NH 4 -N deposition spike (Decina et al, 2017). (Fenn et al, 2010).…”

Section: Bulk and Throughfall Deposition In Urban-affected Regionsmentioning

confidence: 89%

“…Likewise, as suggested by data in the present study, on-road NH 3 emissions are a dominant source of NH 4 + deposition in the Lake Tahoe Basin and in the Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Jose and other West Coast metropolitan areas and surrounding regions. The significance of on-road and urban emissions of NH 3 has been demonstrated in many regions (Cape et al, 2004;Decina et al, 2017;Gadsdon and Power, 2009;Kirchner et al, 2005;Rao et al, 2014;Watmough et al, 2014). However, some studies of on-road N emissions have measured oxidized forms of N, while ignoring NH 3 emissions (Gombert et al, 2003;Kenkel et al, 2016), possibly because on-road emissions are as of yet, sometimes underappreciated.…”

Section: Environmental and Ecological Implications Of Urban And On-romentioning

confidence: 99%

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On-road emissions of ammonia: An underappreciated source of atmospheric nitrogen deposition

Fenn

Bytnerowicz

Schilling

et al. 2018

Science of The Total Environment

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H I G H L I G H T S• This study documents the increasing importance of on-road emissions of NH 3.• NO x emissions control mechanisms frequently result in NH 3 production and emissions.• NH 3 is an important driver of N deposition in urban-affected areas and near roadways.• NH 4 -N:NO 3 -N ratios in urban deposition are indicative of elevated NH 3 emissions.• On-road NH 3 emissions exceed agricultural emissions where 40% of the U.S. resides. We provide updated spatial distribution and inventory data for on-road NH 3 emissions for the continental United States (U.S.) On-road NH 3 emissions were determined from on-road CO 2 emissions data and empirical NH 3 :CO 2 vehicle emissions ratios. Emissions of NH 3 from on-road sources in urbanized regions are typically 0.1-1.3 t km −2 yr −1 while NH 3 emissions in agricultural regions generally range from 0.4-5.5 t km G R A P H I C A L A B S T R A C T a b s t r a c t a r t i c l e i n f o, with a few hotspots as high as 5.5-11.2 t km −2 yr −1. Counties with higher vehicle NH 3 emissions than from agriculture include 40% of the U.S. population. The amount of wet inorganic N deposition as NH 4 + from the National Atmospheric Deposition Program (NADP) network ranged from 37 to 83% with a mean of 58.7%. Only 4% of the NADP sites across the U.S. had b45% of the N deposition as NH 4 + based on data from 2014 to 2016, illustrating the near-universal elevated proportions of NH 4 + in deposition across the U.S. Case studies of on-road NH 3 emissions in relation to N deposition include four urban sites in Oregon and Washington where the average NH 4 -N:NO 3 -N ratio in bulk deposition was 2.3. At urban sites in the greater Los Angeles Basin, bulk deposition of NH 4 -N and NO 3 -N were equivalent, while NH 4 -N:NO 3 -N in throughfall under shrubs ranged from 0.6 to 1.7. The NH 4 -N:NO 3 -N ratio at 7-10 sites in the Lake Tahoe Basin averaged 1.4 and 1.6 in bulk deposition and throughfall, and deposition of NH 4 -N was strongly correlated with summertime NH 3 concentrations. On-road

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Atmospheric Inputs of Nitrogen, Carbon, and Phosphorus across an Urban Area: Unaccounted Fluxes and Canopy Influences

2018

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Rates of atmospheric deposition are declining across the United States, yet urban areas remain hotspots of atmospheric deposition. While past studies show elevated rates of inorganic nitrogen (N) deposition in cities, less is known about atmospheric inputs of organic N, organic carbon (C), and organic and inorganic phosphorus (P), all of which can affect ecosystem processes, water quality, and air quality. Further, the effect of the tree canopy on amounts and forms of nutrients reaching urban ground surfaces is not well‐characterized. We measured growing season rates of total N, organic C, and total P in bulk atmospheric inputs, throughfall, and soil solution around the greater Boston area. We found that organic N constitutes a third of total N inputs, organic C inputs are comparable to rural inputs, and inorganic P inputs are 1.2 times higher than those in sewage effluent. Atmospheric inputs are enhanced two‐to‐eight times in late spring and are elevated beneath tree canopies, suggesting that trees augment atmospheric inputs to ground surfaces. Additionally, throughfall inputs may directly enter runoff when trees extend above impervious surfaces, as is the case with 26.1% of Boston's tree canopy. Our results indicate that the urban atmosphere is a significant source of elemental inputs that may impact urban ecosystems and efforts to improve water quality, particularly in terms of P. Further, as cities create policies encouraging tree planting to provide ecosystem services, locating trees above permeable surfaces to reduce runoff nutrient loads may be essential to managing urban biogeochemical cycling and water quality.

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Variability, drivers, and effects of atmospheric nitrogen inputs across an urban area: Emerging patterns among human activities, the atmosphere, and soils

Cited by 67 publications

References 68 publications

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

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

On-road emissions of ammonia: An underappreciated source of atmospheric nitrogen deposition

Atmospheric Inputs of Nitrogen, Carbon, and Phosphorus across an Urban Area: Unaccounted Fluxes and Canopy Influences

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