nitrogen deposition effects of ammonia ammonia workshop national atmospheric deposition program...

Nitrogen Deposition Effects of Ammonia

Ammonia WorkshopNational Atmospheric Deposition Program

October 22-24, 2003Washington, DC

USA

Contrasting NOx and NH3

Historical focus on NOx

Growing focus on NH3

Similarities– Both have point and mobile sources– Both, once emitted can be converted to any

other N species Both contribute to all the N-related impacts.

Reactive N vs Unreactive N2

Unreactive N is N2 (78% of earth’s atmosphere)

Reactive N (Nr) includes all biologically, chemically and physically active N compounds in the atmosphere and biosphere of the Earth

N controls productivity of most natural ecosystems




N controls productivity of most natural ecosystems Nature converts N2 to Nr by biological nitrogen fixation (BNF).

Humans convert N2 to Nr by fossil fuel combustion, the Haber Bosch process, and cultivation-induced BNF.




N controls productivity of most natural ecosystems Nature converts N2 to Nr by biological nitrogen fixation (BNF)

Humans convert N2 to Nr by fossil fuel combustion, the Haber Bosch process, and cultivation-induced BNF.

Primary Conclusions– Humans create more Nr than do natural terrestrial processes.– Nr is accumulating in the environment.– Nr accumulation contributes to most environment issues of the day.

– NHx and its conversion products are key components.

Objectives Contrasting NOx and NH3

Human Alteration of N Cycle– An agrarian to an industrializing world

The Consequences of Anthropogenic Nitrogen (including NH3).– Nitrogen is nutritious

– Nitrogen cascades

Challenges!

The History of Nitrogen --N becomes limiting?--

0

1,000

2,000

3,000

4,000

5,000

6,000

7,000

1750 1800 1850 1900 1950 2000 20500

50

100

150

200

Humans, millions Legumes/Rice, Tg N

Galloway JN and Cowling EB. 2002; Galloway et al., 2003a

N-NutrientN-DiscoveredBNF

The History of Nitrogen --N becomes limiting?--

0

1,000

2,000

3,000

4,000

5,000

6,000

7,000

1750 1800 1850 1900 1950 2000 20500

50

100

150

200

Humans, millions Legumes/Rice, Tg N


N-NutrientN-DiscoveredBNF

World is running out of N*

*1898, Sir William Crookes, president of the British Association for the Advancement of Science

Carl Bosch (1874-1940)The perfect catalyst, 1910Large-scale production, 1913Ammonia to nitrate, 1914Nobel Prize in Chemistry, 1931

-”chemical high pressure methods”

Fritz Haber (1868-1934)Began work on NH3, 1904First patent, 1908Commercial-scale test, 1909Developed Cl2 gas production, 1914Nobel Prize in Chemistry, 1918

-”for the synthesis of ammonia from its elements”

Smil, 2001

The History of Nitrogen --Nr Creation, Haber Bosch process--

0

1,000

2,000

3,000

4,000

5,000

6,000

7,000

1750 1800 1850 1900 1950 2000 20500

50

100

150

200

Humans, millions Haber Bosch Legumes/Rice, Tg N


N-NutrientN-Discovered

N2 + 3H2 --> 2NH3

BNF

The History of Nitrogen --Nr Creation: Fossil Fuel Combustion--

0

1,000

2,000

3,000

4,000

5,000

6,000

7,000

1750 1800 1850 1900 1950 2000 20500

50

100

150

200

Humans, millions Energy Production Food Production



N2 + 3H2 --> 2NH3

BNF

The History of Nitrogen --Nr Creation, People and Nature--

0

1,000

2,000

3,000

4,000

5,000

6,000

7,000

1750 1800 1850 1900 1950 2000 20500

50

100

150

200

Humans, millions Total N Fixed, Tg



N2 + 3H2 --> 2NH3

BNF

Natural Range,terrestrial

{

*

*

Nitrogen Drivers in 1860

Grain Production

Meat Production

EnergyProduction

66 77

88

0.30.3

66 99

1111 881515

2727

NONOyyNN22 NHNHxx

55 66

The Global Nitrogen Budget in 1860 and mid-1990s, TgN/yr18

60

120120

Galloway et al., 2003b

Grain Production

Meat Production

EnergyProduction

Nitrogen Drivers in 1860 & 1995

66 77

88

0.30.3

66 99

1111 881515

2727

NONOyyNN22 NHNHxx

55 66

NONOyyNN22 NHNHxx

2121 2525

1616

2525

55

3333 2323 2626

66

3939

4848

1818

100100

N2 + 3H2

2NH3

The Global Nitrogen Budget in 1860 and mid-1990s, TgN/yr18

60m

id-1

990s

110110

120120


Nitrogen DepositionPast and Present

mg N/m2/yr

1860 1993

500020001000 750 500 250 100 50 25 5


Haber-Bosch has facilitated agricultural intensification

40% of world’s population is alive because of it

An additional 3 billion people by 2050 will be sustained by it

Most N that enters agroecosystems is released to the environment.

Nr and Agricultural Ecosystems

NOx emissions contribute to OH, which defines the oxidizing capacity of the atmosphere

NOx emissions are responsible for tens of thousands of excess-deaths per year in the United States

O3 and N2O contribute to atmospheric warming

N2O emissions contribute to stratospheric O3 depletion

Nr and the Atmosphere

N is the limiting nutrient in most temperate and polar ecosystems

Nr deposition increases and then decreases forest and grassland productivity

Nr additions probably decrease biodiversity across the entire range of deposition

Nr and Terrestrial Ecosystems

Surface water acidification– Tens of thousands of lakes

and streams

– Biodiversity losses

As reductions in SO2 emissions continue, Nr deposition becomes more important.

Nr and Freshwater Ecosystems

Nr and Coastal Ecosystems• Increased algal productivity

• Shifts in community structure

• Harmful algal blooms

• Degradation of seagrass and algal beds

• Formation of nuisance algal mats

• Coral reef destruction

• Increased oxygen demand and hypoxia

• Increased nitrous oxide (greenhouse gas)

Sybil Seitzinger, 2003

There are significant effectsof Nr accumulation within each

reservoir

These effects are linked temporallyand biogeochemically in the

Nitrogen Cascade

Atmosphere

Terrestrial Ecosystems

Aquatic Ecosystems

Human Activities

Agroecosystem EffectsNHx

FoodProduction

Crop Animal

People (Food; Fiber)

Soil

The Nitrogen Cascade

Norg

Galloway et al., 2003a

Atmosphere


Aquatic Ecosystems

Human Activities Groundwater Effects

Surface waterEffects

CoastalEffects

PM &VisibilityEffects


FoodProduction

Crop Animal


Soil


NH3

Norg

Forests &Grassland

Soil

OceanEffects


Atmosphere


Aquatic Ecosystems



CoastalEffects



FoodProduction

Crop Animal


Soil

NO3


NH3

Norg

Forests &Grassland

Soil

OceanEffects


Atmosphere


Aquatic Ecosystems



CoastalEffects

EnergyProduction


OzoneEffects


FoodProduction

NOx

NOx

Crop Animal


Soil

NO3


NH3

Norg

Forests &Grassland

Soil

OceanEffects


Atmosphere


Aquatic Ecosystems



CoastalEffects

EnergyProduction


OzoneEffects


FoodProduction

NOx

NOx

Crop Animal


Soil

NO3


NH3

--Indicates denitrification potential

Norg

Forests &Grassland

Soil

OceanEffects

Atmosphere


Aquatic Ecosystems



CoastalEffects

StratosphericEffects

EnergyProduction


OzoneEffects


FoodProduction

NOx

NOx

Crop Animal


Soil

NO3


NH3

--Indicates denitrification potential

Norg

Forests &Grassland

Soil

OceanEffects

N2O

GHEffects

N2O

Hog Production in USA(1 dot= 10,000 Hogs and Pigs)

Meat Consumption in North America(kg/capita/year)

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000

Hogs and Pigs

Conclusions NH3 contributes to every N-related issue

– Directly or indirectly

Nr and NHx are accumulating in environmental reservoirs

The impacts of N accumulation are significant and inter-related

NH3 emissions will increase with time

There is need for an integrated approach to manage N!

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000

Meat Consumption in North America(kg/capita/year)

Layers & Pullets

(60,000/dot)

Nr Creation Rates by Food and Energy Production in 2050

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

1000 1100 1200 1300 1400 1500 1600 1700 1800 1900 2000 2100

Year

today

2050

Nr Creation Rates1995 (left) and 2050 (right)

TgN/yr

60 92

5 13

32 27

10 17

32 42

2050 rates scaled by: -> population increase relative to 1995

after Galloway and Cowling, 2002

Nr Creation Rates1995 (left) and 2050 (right)

TgN/yr

60

568

5

190

32 67

1087

32 42

2 5

2050 rates scaled by: -> population increase relative to 1995 -> N. Amer. per capita Nr creation in 1995

after Galloway and Cowling, 2002

N Fertilizer Produced

100

The Fate of Haber-Bosch Nitrogen

Galloway JN and Cowling EB. 2002


NConsumed

100 14


14% of the N produced in the Haber-Bosch process enters thehuman mouth……….



N Fertilizer Consumed

N in Crop

N Harvested

Nin Food

NConsumed

-6 -47 -12

100 144794 2631

-5


-16

14% of the N produced in the Haber-Bosch process enters thehuman mouth……….if you are a vegetarian.



N Fertilizer Applied

N in Crop

N In Feed

Nin Store

NConsumed

-6 -47 -3

100 44794 731

-24


-16

4% of the N produced in the Haber-Bosch process and usedfor animal production enters the human mouth.


Nr Riverine Fluxes1860 (left) and 1990 (right)

TgN/yr

5.7

16.7

-> all regions increase riverine fluxes-> Asia becomes dominant

0.6 0.7

4.58.4

47.2

7 8.25.3 6.6

Galloway et al, 2003b; Boyer et al., in preparation

Nr Formation vs.

Nr Conversion back to N2

N2 Nr160 Tg N/yr

Nr Formation vs.


N2 Nr160 Tg N/yr

??

• Is anthropogenic Nr accumulating in environmental systems?• If so, where relative to point of introduction?• If so, on what time scale?

Nr Formation vs.


N2 Nr160 Tg N/yr

< 160 Tg N/yr

• Is anthropogenic Nr accumulating in environmental systems?• If so, where relative to point of introduction?• If so, on what time scale?

• Nr is accumulating in the atmosphere.• Nr is accumulating in terrestrial systems.• Once Nr enters water (streams, rivers, estuaries) most will eventually denitrify but generally far from point of entry.• Accumulation occurs on short- and long-time scales.

International Nitrogen Initiative

Formed in December 2002; SCOPE & IGBP sponsors

Objective

optimize nitrogen’s beneficial role in sustainable food production and minimize nitrogen’s negative effects on human health and the environment resulting from food and energy production.

Preliminary assessment in December 2004.

establish Regional Centers for North America, Latin

America, Asia, Oceania, Europe and Africa

use a three-phased approach, designed around the program objectives, to work towards the overall goal of the INI

Phase I: Assessment of knowledge on N flows and problems

Phase II: Development of region-specific solutions.

Phase III: Implementation of scientific, engineering and policy tools to solve problems.

activities for a given Center will depend upon the ‘maturity’ of nitrogen science and policy for that region.

International Nitrogen Initiative Approach

The Components of INI

acid rain

Biodiversity losses

eutrophication

stratospheric ozonemethemoglinemia

smog

haze

human health

forest productivity

fertilizers

agroecosystems

fossil fuel combustion

food production

legumes

North America

Latin America

Europe

Asia

Africa

Oceania

nitrogen fixation

denitrification nitrification

CAFOspolicy

economics

politics

manure

troposphere

forests

grasslands

freshwaters

estuaries

ocean

wetlands

stratosphere

cities

decomposition

assimilation

emissions

deposition

rivers

Imports/exports

Phase I: Assessment of Science andIdentification of Problems

agroecosystems

troposphere

forests

grasslands

freshwatersestuariesocean

wetlands

stratosphere

cities

The N Biogeochemical Cycle

Systems


agroecosystems

troposphere

forests

grasslands


wetlands

stratosphere

cities

nitrogen fixation

denitrification

nitrification

decomposition

assimilation

Processes


Systems


agroecosystems

troposphere

forests

grasslands


wetlands

stratosphere

cities

nitrogen fixation

denitrification

nitrification

decomposition

assimilation

emissions

deposition

riversimports/exports

Exchanges

Processes


Systems


agroecosystems

troposphere

forests

grasslands


wetlands

stratosphere

cities

nitrogen fixation

denitrification

nitrification

decomposition

assimilation

emissions

deposition


Exchanges

Processes


EnergyFood People

Systems


agroecosystems

troposphere

forests

grasslands


wetlands

stratosphere

cities

nitrogen fixation

denitrification

nitrification

decomposition

assimilation

emissions

deposition


acid rain

biodiversity losses

eutrophication

smog

haze

human health

forest productivity

stratospheric ozone

Exchanges

Processes Impacts


EnergyFood People

Systems

Phase II: Development of SolutionsPhase III: Implementation of Solutions

acid rain

biodiversity losses

eutrophication

smog

haze

human health

forest productivity

stratospheric ozone

ImpactsThese impacts can be lessened by reducing the amount of reactive N created and by converting reactive N to N2.

To achieve these goals, while maintaining food and energy production, requires engineers, policy makers, economists, resource managers,etc. working in a regional context.

International Nitrogen Initiative Current Status

Formed in December 2002 Sponsored by SCOPE and IGBP INI has a 15-person Scientific Advisory

Committee members from Brazil, China, France, Netherlands,

Japan, South Africa, Sweden, Thailand,Uganda, United Kingdom, United States

First SAC meeting is hosted by Dutch Government

May 12-14, 2003, The Hague

The Challenge to all Parties

Maximize food and energy production while maintaining environmental and

human health!

nitrogen deposition effects of ammonia ammonia workshop national atmospheric deposition program...

Documents

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n species

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n r creation

active n compounds

nrelated impacts

earth n controls productivity

human alteration of