Sinks for nitrous oxide at the earth’s surface

In this study, we focus on bacterial reduction of N2O to N2 and discuss the likeliness of N2O uptake in different systems, including soils and aquatic systems. Our results indicate that soils are not only important sources of N2O, but can also act as a sink for atmospheric N2O. Global budget studies that fail to explicitly account for N2O sinks at the Earth’s surface may not be a good basis for atmospheric budget studies and analyses of trends in emissions.

Controls of N2O uptake in soils

We consider a system a sink when the net N2O uptake occurs over a relatively large area and prolonged period of time. Soil uptake of N2O is driven by denitrification by bacteria, converting N2O into N2. The most important factors affecting N2O uptake by soils are nitrogen availability, soil wetness and temperature. In addition, soil drainage conditions and soil pH are important. Based on the controlling factors, we argue that soils, surface waters and riparian zones may be potential sinks for atmospheric N2O, while groundwater systems are not likely to be major sinks.

Not many experimental studies on observed sinks exist. N2O uptake has been observed in soils, aquatic systems and riparian zones. In theory, soils are particularly powerful sinks. From the available studies, we may conclude:

  1. Although agricultural soils are usually fertilized and therefore not likely to be sinks for N2O, some studies report on N2O uptake in fertilized fields.
  2. Several studies report on considerable N2O uptake in forest soils, indicating that these may potentially be important sinks for atmospheric N2O.
  3. Riparian zones potentially have a large denitrification activity and depending on local conditions may be potential sinks for N2O.
  4. Whether or not lakes can act as a sink is not clear from the available studies.
  5. N2O uptake may occur in the open ocean.

Changing sink activity

The future N2O sink strength may be reduced by increasing atmospheric nitrogen deposition caused by industrial and agricultural emissions of nitrogen compounds. What the net effects of climatic changes on the N2O sink strength are, however, is not clear and depends on the net effect of local changes in temperature, net precipitation and atmospheric N2O increases.

Sink areas

Using the controlling factors mentioned above, we identified areas prone to high N2O sink activity in soils. Our results need to be interpreted with care because of the large uncertainties involved. Nevertheless, our analysis indicates that high sink activity may be more likely in northern regions of North America, Europe and Asia. The regions that are considered to have a ‘high’ or ‘moderate’ likeliness of N2O uptake cover ~16% of the global land area. Clearly, further studies are needed to confirm our results. Such studies could include experimental analyses as well as mechanistic models.

Authors

Kroeze C, Bouwman AF, and Slomp CP

Specifications

Publication title
Sinks for nitrous oxide at the earth’s surface
Publication date
1 June 2007
Publication type
Publication
Magazine
In D. Reay, C.N. Hewitt, K. Smith and J. Grace (Editors), Greenhouse gas sinks. CABI International, Wallingford, pp. pp. 227-242.
Product number
92016