Ammonia Emissions May Be Substantially Underestimated in China

• DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.7b02171
• Publication Date: 2017-10-06T09:44:10Z
• Authors: Xiuming Zhang; Yiyun Wu; Xuejun Liu; Stefan Reis; Jiaxin Jin; Ulrike Dragosits; Martin Van Damme; Lieven Clarisse; Simon Whitburn; Pierre-François C...; Baojing Gu
• Keywords: Deposition; Hotspot (geology)

China is a global hotspot of atmospheric ammonia (NH3) emissions and, as consequence, very high nitrogen (N) deposition levels are documented. However, previous estimates total NH3 in were much lower than inference from observed values would suggest, highlighting the need for further investigation. Here, we reevaluated based on mass balance approach, validated by N monitoring and satellite observations, period 2000 to 2015. Total increased 12.1 ± 0.8 Tg yr–1 15.6 0.9 2015 at an annual rate 1.9%, which approximately 40% higher existing studies suggested. This difference mainly due more emission sources now having been included rates mineral fertilizer application livestock underestimated previously. Our estimated consistent with measured NHx (including NH4+ NH3) land (11–14 yr–1) substantial increases concentrations measurements over China. These findings substantially improve our understanding emissions, implying that future air pollution control strategies have consider potentials reducing