High concentrations and dry deposition of reactive nitrogen species at two sites in the North China Plain

Publication Type

Journal contribution (peer reviewed)

Authors

Shen, J.L., Tang, A.H., Liu, X.J., Fangmeier, A., Goulding, K.T.W., Zhang, F.S.

Year of publication

2009

Published in

Environmental Pollution

Page (from - to)

3106-3113

Atmospheric concentrations of major reactive nitrogen (N_r) species were quantified using passive samplers, denuders, and particulate samplers at Dongbeiwang and Quzhou, North China Plain (NCP) in a two-year study. Average concentrations of NH₃, NO₂, HNO₃, pNH₄⁺ and pNO₃^- were 12.0, 12.9, 0.6, 10.3, and 4.7 μg N m^-3 across the two sites, showing different seasonal patterns of these N_r species. For example, the highest NH₃ concentration occurred in summer while NO₂ concentrations were greater in winter, both of which reflected impacts of N fertilization (summer) and coal-fueled home heating (winter). Based on measured N_r concentrations and their deposition velocities taken from the literature, annual N dry deposition was up to 55 kg N ha^-1. Such high concentrations and deposition rates of N_r species in the NCP indicate very serious air pollution from anthropogenic sources and significant atmospheric N input to crops.