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Evidence for an additional source of atmospheric N 2 O
Author(s) -
McElroy Michael B.,
Jones Dylan B. A.
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
global biogeochemical cycles
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.512
H-Index - 187
eISSN - 1944-9224
pISSN - 0886-6236
DOI - 10.1029/96gb02346
Subject(s) - stratosphere , photodissociation , chemistry , atmospheric chemistry , fractionation , analytical chemistry (journal) , environmental chemistry , atmospheric sciences , ozone , photochemistry , physics , organic chemistry
Kim and Craig [1993] have shown that N 2 O in the stratosphere is enriched in both 18 O and 15 N relative to tropospheric N 2 O. It is difficult to account for this result in light of the measurements of Selwyn and Johnston [1981] and Johnston et al. [1995] indicating that isotopic fractionation associated with the known stratospheric sinks, photolysis and reaction with O( 1 D), is minimal. It is suggested that the puzzle could be resolved by invoking an additional source of isotopically heavy N 2 O formed perhaps by reaction of N 2 with CO 3 produced by recombination of O( 1 D) and CO 2 . This source would require a significant reduction in estimates for net, mainly biological, emission of N 2 O at the surface.
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