Display:
News focus that includes GHG other than the CO2 bogeyman - have been waiting for that for more than three years... Interesting that they take on a big elephant in the room, too.

The university press release is here.

The two articles in Science are:

Transformation of the Nitrogen Cycle: Recent Trends, Questions, and Potential Solutions -- Galloway et al. 320 (5878): 889 -- Science

Humans continue to transform the global nitrogen cycle at a record pace, reflecting an increased combustion of fossil fuels, growing demand for nitrogen in agriculture and industry, and pervasive inefficiencies in its use. Much anthropogenic nitrogen is lost to air, water, and land to cause a cascade of environmental and human health problems. Simultaneously, food production in some parts of the world is nitrogen-deficient, highlighting inequities in the distribution of nitrogen-containing fertilizers. Optimizing the need for a key human resource while minimizing its negative consequences requires an integrated interdisciplinary approach and the development of strategies to decrease nitrogen-containing waste.

and

Impacts of Atmospheric Anthropogenic Nitrogen on the Open Ocean -- Duce et al. 320 (5878): 893 -- Science

Increasing quantities of atmospheric anthropogenic fixed nitrogen entering the open ocean could account for up to about a third of the ocean's external (nonrecycled) nitrogen supply and up to 3% of the annual new marine biological production, 0.3 petagram of carbon per year. This input could account for the production of up to 1.6 teragrams of nitrous oxide (N2O) per year. Although 10% of the ocean's drawdown of atmospheric anthropogenic carbon dioxide may result from this atmospheric nitrogen fertilization, leading to a decrease in radiative forcing, up to about two-thirds of this amount may be offset by the increase in N2O emissions. The effects of increasing atmospheric nitrogen deposition are expected to continue to grow in the future.

Last one is a good example why "seeding the oceans" may not be an altogether beneficial solution for atmospheric CO2 reduction.

by Nomad on Fri May 16th, 2008 at 03:04:57 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Thanks, Nomad. If you have access to the full Galloway article, I'd be interested.
by afew (afew(a in a circle)eurotrib_dot_com) on Fri May 16th, 2008 at 03:57:24 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Display:
Login
. Make a new account
. Reset password
Occasional Series