The cycling of organic nitrogen through the atmosphere

Jickells, T.; Baker, A.R.; Cape, J.N.; Cornell, S.E.; Nemitz, E. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1765-6298. 2013 The cycling of organic nitrogen through the atmosphere. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 368 (1621), 20130115. 10.1098/rstb.2013.0115

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2013.0115

Abstract/Summary

Atmospheric organic nitrogen (ON) appears to be a ubiquitous but poorly understood component of the atmospheric nitrogen deposition flux. Here, we focus on the ON components that dominate deposition and do not consider reactive atmospheric gases containing ON such as peroxyacyl nitrates that are important in atmospheric nitrogen transport, but are probably not particularly important in deposition. We first review the approaches to the analysis and characterization of atmospheric ON. We then briefly summarize the available data on the concentrations of ON in both aerosols and rainwater from around the world, and the limited information available on its chemical characterization. This evidence clearly shows that atmospheric aerosol and rainwater ON is a complex mixture of material from multiple sources. This synthesis of available information is then used to try and identify some of the important sources of this material, in particular, if it is of predominantly natural or anthropogenic origin. Finally, we suggest that the flux of ON is about 25 per cent of the total nitrogen deposition flux.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	10.1098/rstb.2013.0115
Programmes:	CEH Topics & Objectives 2009 - 2012 > Biogeochemistry > BGC Topic 1 - Monitoring and Interpretation of Biogeochemical and Climate Changes
UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:	Billett (to November 2013)
ISSN:	0962-8436
Additional Keywords:	nitrogen, organic nitrogen, atmosphere
NORA Subject Terms:	Atmospheric Sciences
Date made live:	05 Mar 2014 15:04 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/505123

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

10.1098/rstb.2013.0115

Programmes:

CEH Topics & Objectives 2009 - 2012 > Biogeochemistry > BGC Topic 1 - Monitoring and Interpretation of Biogeochemical and Climate Changes

UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:

Billett (to November 2013)

ISSN:

0962-8436

Additional Keywords:

nitrogen, organic nitrogen, atmosphere