Comparisons of aerosol nitrogen isotopic composition at two polluted coastal sites

Yeatman, S. G., Spokes, L. J., Dennis, P. F. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0307-4406 and Jickells, T. D. (2001) Comparisons of aerosol nitrogen isotopic composition at two polluted coastal sites. Atmospheric Environment, 35 (7). pp. 1307-1320.

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Abstract

Atmospheric fixed-nitrogen deposition can contribute to eutrophication in coastal and estuarine waters. Stable nitrogen isotope data can provide important information regarding the sources and processing of atmospheric fixed-nitrogen species and is thus important in controlling eutrophication. Size-segregated aerosol samples were collected from two coastal sites: Weybourne, England and Mace Head, Ireland and also aboard the RRS Challenger in the Eastern Atlantic Ocean. Aerosol concentrations of ammonium and nitrate were determined prior to d15N isotopic analysis. For both species a significant difference in mean isotopic composition was seen between samples from Weybourne (+6±6‰ for ammonium and +7±6‰ for nitrate) and Mace Head and RRS Challenger campaigns (-9±8‰ for ammonium and -1±3‰ for nitrate). At each site a strong dependence of isotopic composition on the geographical origin of the sampled air mass was also observed. For aerosol ammonium, marine and terrestrially dominated samples were found to be isotopically distinct, perhaps reflecting the presence of oceanic sources of ammonia in addition to anthropogenic or natural terrestrial sources. Further distinctions were made within terrestrially dominated samples, possibly indicative of different types of animal husbandry regimes or other forms of anthropogenic activity. For aerosol nitrate, there was found to be generally less variation between samples at each site, although at Weybourne a significant difference was observed between the mean isotopic composition of samples originating from the northern UK (+15±3‰) and that of those originating from the southern UK (+10±3‰), suggesting that aerosol d15N data might possibly facilitate source apportionment between NOx emissions from power stations and those from vehicle exhausts. The nitrate data also appeared to show seasonality with higher concentrations and lower d15N values seen in the summer.

Item Type: Article
Faculty \ School: Faculty of Science > School of Environmental Sciences
University of East Anglia Research Groups/Centres > Theme - ClimateUEA
UEA Research Groups: Faculty of Science > Research Groups > Geosciences
Faculty of Science > Research Groups > Centre for Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences
Faculty of Science > Research Groups > Marine and Atmospheric Sciences (former - to 2017)
Faculty of Science > Research Groups > Climate, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences (former - to 2017)
Depositing User: Rosie Cullington
Date Deposited: 13 Jun 2011 09:36
Last Modified: 20 Mar 2023 12:35
URI: https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/32299
DOI: 10.1016/S1352-2310(00)00408-8

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