Simulation of Production and Atmospheric Transport of N2O in the Central US Compared to Tower Measurements
Abstract
N2O (nitrous oxide) is, among anthropogenic emissions, currently the most important ozone depleter and the third most important radiative forcer. Its atmospheric chemistry is relatively simple, but the chemistry of its production is not. Attempts to spatially and temporally quantify its fluxes have achieved mixed results; however, many researchers agree that agriculture is the main anthropogenic source sector, with fertilizer application the management practice most directly influencing N2O emission. We present the results of modeling N2O concentrations with CMAQ-5 over the North American AQMEII domain in 2008. We input emissions from EPIC-0509 (a process model for agricultural soils, et al) over the contiguous US, and from other inventories (CLMCN-N2O, EDGAR-4.2, GEIA, GFED-3.1) over larger scales. We compare results with NOAA ESRL GMD tower observations and recent investigations. We address relations between N2O concentrations and agricultural processes, and provide suggestions for further research.
- Publication:
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AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2012
- Bibcode:
- 2012AGUFM.A11G0130R
- Keywords:
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- 0315 ATMOSPHERIC COMPOSITION AND STRUCTURE / Biosphere/atmosphere interactions;
- 0345 ATMOSPHERIC COMPOSITION AND STRUCTURE / Pollution: urban and regional;
- 3355 ATMOSPHERIC PROCESSES / Regional modeling;
- 9350 GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION / North America