Chapter 1
An Overview of Atmospheric Reactive
Nitrogen in China from a Global
Perspective
Xuejun Liu and Enzai Du
Abstract Atmospheric reactive nitrogen (N), as an important component of global
N cycle, has been significantly altered by anthropogenic emissions and consequently
induced worldwide impacts on air pollution and ecosystem services. Due to rapid
agricultural, industrial, and urban development, China has been experiencing a rapid
increase in reactive N emissions and deposition since the late 1970s. Based on a
literature review, this book summarizes recent research on (1) atmospheric reactive
N as a global environmental issue (Chap. 1), (2) the emission, deposition, and budget
of atmospheric reactive N (Chaps. 2, 3, 4 and 5), (3) the contribution of reactive N to
air pollution (e.g., haze, surface O 3 , and acid deposition) (Chaps. 6, 7 and 8), (4) the
impacts of N deposition on sensitive ecosystems (e.g., forests, grasslands, deserts,
and lakes) (Chaps. 9, 10, 11 and 12), and (5) the regulatory strategies for mitigation
of atmospheric reactive N pollution from agricultural and nonagricultural sectors in
China (Chaps. 13 and 14).
1.1 Atmospheric Reactive Nitrogen as a Global
Environmental Issue
Nitrogen (N) gas (N 2 ) accounts for a volume fraction of approximately 78% of the
atmosphere, but it is unusable by most living organisms. Prior to the industrial
revolution, biological N fixation was the dominant pathway of new reactive N inputs
to the biosphere, while anthropogenic creation of new reactive N was negligible
X. Liu (*)
College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing,
China
e-mail: liu310@cau.edu.cn
E. Du (*)
Faculty of Geographical Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
e-mail: enzaidu@bnu.edu.cn
© Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2020
X. Liu, E. Du (eds.), Atmospheric Reactive Nitrogen in China,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-8514-8_1
1
An Overview of Atmospheric Reactive
Nitrogen in China from a Global
Perspective
Xuejun Liu and Enzai Du
Abstract Atmospheric reactive nitrogen (N), as an important component of global
N cycle, has been significantly altered by anthropogenic emissions and consequently
induced worldwide impacts on air pollution and ecosystem services. Due to rapid
agricultural, industrial, and urban development, China has been experiencing a rapid
increase in reactive N emissions and deposition since the late 1970s. Based on a
literature review, this book summarizes recent research on (1) atmospheric reactive
N as a global environmental issue (Chap. 1), (2) the emission, deposition, and budget
of atmospheric reactive N (Chaps. 2, 3, 4 and 5), (3) the contribution of reactive N to
air pollution (e.g., haze, surface O 3 , and acid deposition) (Chaps. 6, 7 and 8), (4) the
impacts of N deposition on sensitive ecosystems (e.g., forests, grasslands, deserts,
and lakes) (Chaps. 9, 10, 11 and 12), and (5) the regulatory strategies for mitigation
of atmospheric reactive N pollution from agricultural and nonagricultural sectors in
China (Chaps. 13 and 14).
1.1 Atmospheric Reactive Nitrogen as a Global
Environmental Issue
Nitrogen (N) gas (N 2 ) accounts for a volume fraction of approximately 78% of the
atmosphere, but it is unusable by most living organisms. Prior to the industrial
revolution, biological N fixation was the dominant pathway of new reactive N inputs
to the biosphere, while anthropogenic creation of new reactive N was negligible
X. Liu (*)
College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing,
China
e-mail: liu310@cau.edu.cn
E. Du (*)
Faculty of Geographical Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
e-mail: enzaidu@bnu.edu.cn
© Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2020
X. Liu, E. Du (eds.), Atmospheric Reactive Nitrogen in China,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-8514-8_1
1