Measurement of ammonia emissions from temperate and sub-polar seabird colonies

Riddick, S.N.; Blackall, T.D.; Dragosits, U. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9283-6467; Daunt, F. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4638-3388; Newell, M.; Braban, C.F. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4275-0152; Tang, Y.S.; Schmale, J.; Hill, P.W.; Wanless, S. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2788-4606; Trathan, P. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6673-9930; Sutton, M.A. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6263-6341. 2016 Measurement of ammonia emissions from temperate and sub-polar seabird colonies. Atmospheric Environment, 134. 40-50. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2016.03.016

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2016.03.016

Abstract/Summary

The chemical breakdown of marine derived reactive nitrogen transported to the land as seabird guano represents a significant source of ammonia (NH3) in areas far from other NH3 sources. Measurements made at tropical and temperate seabird colonies indicate substantial NH3 emissions, with emission rates larger than many anthropogenic point sources. However, several studies indicate that thermodynamic processes limit the amount of NH3 emitted from guano, suggesting that the percentage of guano volatilizing as NH3 may be considerably lower in colder climates. This study undertook high resolution temporal ammonia measurements in the field and coupled results with modelling to estimate NH3 emissions at a temperate puffin colony and two sub-polar penguin colonies (Signy Island, South Orkney Islands and Bird Island, South Georgia) during the breeding season. These emission rates are then compared with NH3 volatilization rates from other climates. Ammonia emissions were calculated using a Lagrangian atmospheric dispersion model, resulting in mean emissions of 5 μg m-2 s-1 at the Isle of May, 12 μg m-2 s-1 at Signy Island and 9 μg m-2 s-1 at Bird Island. The estimated percentage of total guano nitrogen volatilized was 5% on the Isle of May, 3% on Signy and 2% on Bird Island. These values are much smaller than the percentage of guano nitrogen volatilized in tropical contexts (31-65%). The study confirmed temperature, wind speed and water availability have a significant influence on the magnitude of NH3 emissions, which has implications for reactive nitrogen in both modern remote regions and pre-industrial atmospheric composition and ecosystem interactions.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2016.03.016
Programmes:	BAS Programmes > BAS Programmes 2015 > Ecosystems
UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:	Dise Watt
ISSN:	1352-2310
Additional Keywords:	coastal nitrogen, seabirds, penguins, temperate, sub-polar, NH3 emissions, atmospheric dispersion, inverse modelling
NORA Subject Terms:	Ecology and Environment Atmospheric Sciences
Date made live:	14 Mar 2016 13:15 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/513254

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2016.03.016

Programmes:

BAS Programmes > BAS Programmes 2015 > Ecosystems

UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:

Dise
Watt

ISSN:

1352-2310

Additional Keywords:

coastal nitrogen, seabirds, penguins, temperate, sub-polar, NH3 emissions, atmospheric dispersion, inverse modelling