Inland Waters Increasingly Produce and Emit Nitrous Oxide

Nitrous oxide (N2O) is a long-lived greenhouse gas and currently contributes ∼10% to global greenhouse warming. Studies have suggested that inland waters are a large and growing global N2O source, but whether, how, where, when, and why inland-water N2O emissions changed in the Anthropocene remains unclear. Here, we quantify global N2O formation, transport, and emission along the aquatic continuum and their changes using a spatially explicit, mechanistic, coupled biogeochemistry–hydrology model.

The global inland-water N2O emission increased from 0.4 to 1.3 Tg N yr–1 during 1900–2010 due to (1) growing N2O inputs mainly from groundwater and (2) increased inland-water N2O production, largely in reservoirs. Inland waters currently contribute 7 (5–10)% to global total N2O emissions. The highest inland-water N2O emissions are typically in and downstream of reservoirs and areas with high population density and intensive agricultural activities in eastern and southern Asia, southeastern North America, and Europe. The expected continuing excessive use of nutrients, dam construction, and development of suboxic conditions in aging reservoirs imply persisting high inland-water N2O emissions.

Authors

PBL Authors
Arthur Beusen
Other authors
J. Wang
L. Vilmin
J.M. Mogollon
W.J. van Hoek
X. Liu
P.A. Pika

Specifications

Publication title
Inland Waters Increasingly Produce and Emit Nitrous Oxide
Publication date
30 August 2023
Publication type
Article
Publication language
English
Magazine
Environmental Science and Technology
Issue
57, 36
Product number
5375