2024-08-13 06:00:04
Nitrogen, an element omnipresent in the atmosphere, reveals an unexpected facet: its emissions would have a cooling effect on the climate.
An international study conducted by theInstitut Max Planck and theUniversity of Sydney reveals that emissions ofnitrogen issues des fertilizer and fossil fuels have a cooling effect on the climate. However, this phenomenon is accompanied by many negative impacts on theenvironment and the healthrequiring urgent action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions greenhouse.
Researchers have found that nitrogen emissions from human activities, such as fertilizer use and fossil fuel burning, can cool the climate by blocking sunlight and promoting plant growth.
The results, published in Natureindicate that reactive nitrogen released by human activities cools the climate by 0.34 watts per square meterDespite this cooling, greenhouse gases continue to increase, outweighing the beneficial effects of cooling from nitrogen.
Researchers warn that increasing atmospheric nitrogen levels is not a viable solution. Federico Maggi of theUniversity of Sydney stresses that nitrogen fertilizers pollute water and nitrogen oxides from fossil fuels pollute the air, making this approach unacceptable for combating climate change.
Sönke Zaehle from theInstitut Max Planck recalls for its part that nitrogen emissions have harmful effects on health, biodiversity and the ozone layer. The results should not obscure the negative impacts of nitrogen, nor justify its increased use to combat global warming.
Elemental nitrogen, which makes up 78% of air, is climate neutral, but its reactive compounds can warm or cool the climate. For example, nitrous oxide (N2O) is a greenhouse gas almost 300 times more potent than CO2.
The study highlights the importance of mathematical models for understanding the global effects of nitrogen on climate and the environment.
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