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Nitrous Oxide Emissions From Tropical Soils, Antonio Donato Nobre

Doctoral Dissertations

Nitrous oxide ($\rm N\sb2O$), the third most important greenhouse trace gas in the troposphere and one contributor to ozone destruction in the stratosphere, has its concentration in the atmosphere increasing steadily over the last few decades. This study measured sources from tropical soils, potentially the highest and least studied $\rm N\sb2O$ production areas in the world.

For two tropical volcanic soils in Costa Rica the effect of water, nitrate and glucose additions on episodic emissions of nitrous oxide were studied. Magnitudes of episodic $\rm N\sb2O$ pulses, as well as overall $\rm N\sb2O$ emissions, varied considerably and consistently, depending on soil …