Isotopic Constraints on Nitrous Oxide Emissions From the US Corn Belt

T. J. Griffis, Z. Yu, J. M. Baker, D. B. Millet

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Agriculture is the dominant source of anthropogenic nitrous oxide (N2O) –a greenhouse gas and a stratospheric ozone depleting substance. The US Corn Belt is a large global N2O source, but there remain large uncertainties regarding its source attribution and biogeochemical pathways. Here, we interpret high frequency stable N2O isotope observations from a very tall tower to improve our understanding of regional source attribution. We detected significant seasonal variability in δ15Nbulk (6.47–7.33‰) and the isotope site preference (δ15NSP = δ15Nα–δ15Nβ, 18.22–25.19‰) indicating a predominance of denitrification during the growing period but of nitrification during the snowmelt period. Isotope mixing models and atmospheric inversions both indicate that indirect emissions contribute substantially (>35%) to total N2O emissions. Despite the relatively large uncertainties, the upper bound of bottom-up indirect emission estimates are at the lower bound of the isotopic constraint, implying significant discrepancies that require further investigation.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article numbere2024GL109623
JournalGeophysical Research Letters
Volume51
Issue number21
Early online dateNov 6 2024
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 16 2024

Keywords

  • Corn Belt
  • direct emissions
  • indirect emissions
  • isotopes
  • nitrous oxide
  • regional budget

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Geophysics
  • General Earth and Planetary Sciences

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