Dissecting the contributions of organic nitrogen aerosols to global atmospheric nitrogen deposition and implications for ecosystems

• Published in: National Science Review
• Main Authors: Li, Yumin, Fu, Tzung-May, Yu, Jian Zhen, Yu, Xu, Chen, Qi, Miao, Ruqian, Zhou, Yang, Zhang, Aoxing, Ye, Jianhuai, Yang, Xin, Tao, Shu, Liu, Hongbin, Yao, Weiqi
• Other Authors: National Natural Science Foundation of China, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Precision Measurement and Early Warning Technology for Urban Environmental Health Risks, Shenzhen Science and Technology Program, Guangdong University Research Project Science Team, Guangdong Province Major Talent Program, Hong Kong Research Grant Council
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford University Press (OUP) 2023
• Subjects: Arctic; Arctic Ocean
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/nsr/nwad244; https://academic.oup.com/nsr/advance-article-pdf/doi/10.1093/nsr/nwad244/51666486/nwad244.pdf; https://academic.oup.com/nsr/article-pdf/10/12/nwad244/52981020/nwad244.pdf

ABSTRACT Atmospheric deposition of particulate organic nitrogen (ONp) is a significant process in the global nitrogen cycle and may be pivotally important for N-limited ecosystems. However, past models largely overlooked the spatial and chemical inhomogeneity of atmospheric ONp and were thus deficient in assessing global ONp impacts. We constructed a comprehensive global model of atmospheric gaseous and particulate organic nitrogen (ON), including the latest knowledge on emissions and secondary formations. Using this model, we simulated global atmospheric ONp abundances consistent with observations. Our estimated global atmospheric ON deposition was 26 Tg N yr−1, predominantly in the form of ONp (23 Tg N yr−1) and mostly from wildfires (37%), oceans (22%) and aqueous productions (17%). Globally, ONp contributed as much as 40% to 80% of the total N deposition downwind of biomass-burning regions. Atmospheric ONp deposition thus constituted the dominant external N supply to the N-limited boreal forests, tundras and the Arctic Ocean, and its importance may be amplified in a future warming climate.