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Trends in Atmospheric Reactive Nitrogen for the Eastern United States
Citation:
PINDER, R. W., W. APPEL, AND R. L. DENNIS. Trends in Atmospheric Reactive Nitrogen for the Eastern United States. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION. Elsevier Science Ltd, New York, NY, 159(10):3138-3141, (2011).
Impact/Purpose:
The National Exposure Research Laboratory′s (NERL′s) Atmospheric Modeling and Analysis Division (AMAD) conducts research in support of EPA′s mission to protect human health and the environment. AMAD′s research program is engaged in developing and evaluating predictive atmospheric models on all spatial and temporal scales for forecasting the Nation′s air quality and for assessing changes in air quality and air pollutant exposures, as affected by changes in ecosystem management and regulatory decisions. AMAD is responsible for providing a sound scientific and technical basis for regulatory policies based on air quality models to improve ambient air quality. The models developed by AMAD are being used by EPA, NOAA, and the air pollution community in understanding and forecasting not only the magnitude of the air pollution problem, but also in developing emission control policies and regulations for air quality improvements.
Description:
Reactive nitrogen can travel far from emission sources and impact sensitive ecosystems. From 2002-2006, policy actions have led to decreases in NOx emissions from power plants and motor vehicles. In this study, atmospheric chemical transport modeling demonstrates that theses emissions reductions have led to a downward trend in ambient measurements of transported reactive nitrogen, especially atmospheric concentrations and wet deposition of nitrate. The trend in reduced nitrogen, namely ammonium, is ambiguous. As reduced nitrogen becomes a larger fraction of the reactive nitrogen budget, wide-spread NH3 measurements and improved NH3 emissions assessments are a critical need.
URLs/Downloads:
Trends in Atmospheric Reactive Nitrogen for the Eastern United States (PDF, NA pp, 2739 KB, about PDF)Environmental Pollution
