Open AccessMeasurement of isotopomer signatures of N 2 O in groundwater
Author(s) -
Well R.,
Flessa H.,
Jaradat F.,
Toyoda S.,
Yoshida N.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
journal of geophysical research: biogeosciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.67
H-Index - 298
eISSN - 2156-2202
pISSN - 0148-0227
DOI - 10.1029/2005jg000044
Subject(s) - groundwater , isotopomers , aquifer , flux (metallurgy) , atmosphere (unit) , isotope , environmental science , surface water , stable isotope ratio , environmental chemistry , atmospheric sciences , soil science , hydrology (agriculture) , geology , chemistry , molecule , physics , meteorology , geotechnical engineering , organic chemistry , environmental engineering , quantum mechanics
N 2 O flux from aquifers caused by leaching of agricultural N is a poorly known component of the global anthropogenic source of this greenhouse gas. We measured isotopomer signatures of N 2 O (intramolecular distribution of 15 N as well as conventional nitrogen and oxygen isotope ratios) in the interface region between shallow groundwater and the atmosphere in order to evaluate this technique for determining fluxes, production, reduction and the isotopomer fingerprint of N 2 O originating from the saturated zone. 15 N‐site preference (difference in δ 15 N between central and peripheral N‐position) measured in the shallow groundwater of a hydromorphic soil (29 to 81‰) was distinctly larger compared to surface emitted N 2 O. Local and global isotopic budget calculations confirmed that the groundwater derived N 2 O flux of the experimental site was low compared to measured surface fluxes and suggest that 15 N‐site preference might be useful for validating global estimates of groundwater emitted N 2 O.