On the natural spatio-temporal heterogeneity of South Pacific nitrous oxide
Nitrous oxide (N 2 O) is a powerful greenhouse gas and ozone depleting substance, but its natural sources, especially marine emissions, are poorly constrained. Localized high concentrations have been observed in the oxygen minimum zones (OMZs) of the tropical Pacific but the impacts of El Niño cycle...
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Published in: | Nature communications Vol. 11; no. 1; pp. 1 - 9 |
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Main Authors: | , , , |
Format: | Journal Article |
Language: | English |
Published: |
London
Nature Publishing Group UK
28-07-2020
Nature Publishing Group Nature Portfolio |
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | Get full text |
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Summary: | Nitrous oxide (N
2
O) is a powerful greenhouse gas and ozone depleting substance, but its natural sources, especially marine emissions, are poorly constrained. Localized high concentrations have been observed in the oxygen minimum zones (OMZs) of the tropical Pacific but the impacts of El Niño cycles on this key source region are unknown. Here we show atmospheric monitoring station measurements in Samoa combined with atmospheric back-trajectories provide novel information on N
2
O variability across the South Pacific. Remarkable elevations in Samoan concentrations are obtained in air parcels that pass over the OMZ. The data further reveal that average concentrations of these OMZ air parcels are augmented during La Niña and decrease sharply during El Niño. The observed natural spatial heterogeneities and temporal dynamics in marine N
2
O emissions can confound attempts to develop future projections of this climatically active gas as low oxygen zones are predicted to expand and El Niño cycles change.
Ocean oxygen minimum zones (OMZs) are known to emit the powerful greenhouse gas N
2
O, but global emission dynamics are not constrained. Here the authors use air trajectory analyses and find that air masses pick up N
2
O as they pass over OMZs, and that overall concentrations are elevated during La Niña events. |
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ISSN: | 2041-1723 2041-1723 |
DOI: | 10.1038/s41467-020-17509-6 |