Spatial and temporal patterns of nitrogen isotopic composition of ammonia at U.S. ammonia monitoring network sites

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dc.contributor.authorFelix, David
dc.contributor.authorElliott, Emily M.
dc.contributor.authorGay, David A.
dc.creator.orcidhttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-7624-910Xen_US
dc.creator.orcidhttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-7624-910X
dc.creator.orcidhttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-7624-910Xhttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-7624-910X
dc.date.accessioned2022-03-15T14:35:33Z
dc.date.available2022-03-15T14:35:33Z
dc.date.issued2017-02-01
dc.description.abstractAmmonia (NH3) emissions and ammonium (NH4+) deposition can have harmful effects on the environment and human health but remain generally unregulated in the U.S. PM2.5 regulations require that an area not exceed an annual average PM2.5 value of 12 μg/m3 (averaged over three years), and since NH3 is a significant precursor to PM2.5 formation these are the closest indirect regulations of NH3 emissions in the U.S. If the U.S. elects to adopt NH3 emission regulations similar to those applied by the European Union, it will be imperative to first adequately quantify NH3 emission sources and transport, and also understand the factors causing varying emissions from each source. To further investigate NH3 emission sources and transport at a regional scale, NH3 was sampled monthly at a subset of nine Ammonia Monitoring Network (AMoN) sites and analyzed for nitrogen isotopic composition of NH3 (δ15N-NH3). The observed δ15N-NH3 values ranged from −42.4 to +7.1‰ with an average of −15.1 ± 9.7. The observed δ15N-NH3 values reported here provide insight into the spatial and temporal trends of the NH3 sources that contribute to ambient [NH3] in the U.S. In regions where agriculture is prevalent (i.e., U.S. Midwest), low and seasonally variable δ15N-NH3 values are observed and are associated with varying agricultural sources. In comparison, rural nonagricultural areas have higher and more seasonally consistent δ15N-NH3 values associated with a constant “natural” (e.g. soil, vegetation, bi-directional flux, ocean) NH3 source. With regards to temporal variation, the peak in U.S. spring agricultural activity (e.g. fertilizer application, livestock waste volatilization) is accompanied by a decrease in δ15N-NH3 values at a majority of the sites, whereas higher δ15N-NH3 values in other seasons could be due to shifting sources (e.g. coal-fired power plants) and/or fractionation scenarios. Fractionation processes that may mask NH3 source signatures are discussed and require further investigation to optimize the utility of the nitrogen isotopic composition to determine NH3 sources and dynamics.en_US
dc.identifier.citationFelix, J.D., Elliott, E.M. and Gay, D.A., 2017. Spatial and temporal patterns of nitrogen isotopic composition of ammonia at US ammonia monitoring network sites. Atmospheric Environment, 150, pp.434-442.en_US
dc.identifier.doihttps://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1352231016309128?via%3Dihub
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/1969.6/90273
dc.language.isoen_USen_US
dc.publisherElsevieren_US
dc.rightsAttribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International*
dc.rights.urihttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/*
dc.subjectair monitoringen_US
dc.subjectair qualityen_US
dc.subjectammoniaen_US
dc.subjectammoniumen_US
dc.subjectemissionsen_US
dc.subjectisotopeen_US
dc.subjectnitrogenen_US
dc.subjectreactive nitrogenen_US
dc.titleSpatial and temporal patterns of nitrogen isotopic composition of ammonia at U.S. ammonia monitoring network sitesen_US
dc.typeArticleen_US

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