In:
Nature Communications, Springer Science and Business Media LLC, Vol. 13, No. 1 ( 2022-06-06)
Abstract:
Terrestrial ecosystems in China receive the world’s largest amount of reactive nitrogen (N) deposition. Recent controls on nitrogen oxides (NO x = NO + NO 2 ) emissions in China to tackle air pollution are expected to decrease N deposition, yet the observed N deposition fluxes remain almost stagnant. Here we show that the effectiveness of NO x emission controls for reducing oxidized N (NO y = NO x + its oxidation products) deposition is unforeseen in Eastern China, with one-unit reduction in NO x emission leading to only 55‒76% reductions in NO y -N deposition, as opposed to the high effectiveness (around 100%) in both Southern China and the United States. Using an atmospheric chemical transport model, we demonstrate that this unexpected weakened response of N deposition is attributable to the enhanced atmospheric oxidizing capacity by NO x emissions reductions. The decline in N deposition could bear a penalty on terrestrial carbon sinks and should be taken into account when developing pathways for China’s carbon neutrality.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
2041-1723
DOI:
10.1038/s41467-022-30854-y
Language:
English
Publisher:
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Publication Date:
2022
detail.hit.zdb_id:
2553671-0
