Chapter 4
Modelling Atmospheric Nitrogen
Deposition in China
Lin Zhang, Xuemei Wang, Yuanhong Zhao, Qi Zhang, Ming Chang,
and Qiaoqiao Wang
Abstract Atmospheric chemistry models simulate the physical and chemical transformation of airborne nitrogen (N) compounds and their sinks through wet and dry
deposition. This chapter reviews modelling approaches for simulating atmospheric
N deposition and their recent applications for estimating N deposition to China.
Parameterizations of wet deposition include scavenging via both convective updrafts
and large-scale precipitation. Dry deposition is often simulated as the product of
number density and dry deposition velocity based on the resistance-in-series model
using local land properties and meteorological conditions. Recent modelling studies
have reported the annual total N deposition to China in the range of 7.9–20.1 Tg N
year
À1 . Reduced N (NH x ) accounts for 60–80% of the total, reflecting high NH 3
emissions from agricultural activities in China. Dry deposition contributes 39–62%
of total deposition depending on the specific model. More direct dry deposition
measurements are needed to better evaluate model results. There are also considerable uncertainties in modelling N deposition resulting from the complexity of
deposition mechanisms, the uncertainty of input parameters and the properties of
N components. Future work to improve the deposition mechanisms and N emission
estimates is needed to obtain better modelling of atmospheric N deposition to China.
All authors contributed equally.
L. Zhang (*) · Y. Zhao
Laboratory for Climate and Ocean-Atmosphere Studies, Department of Atmospheric
and Oceanic Sciences, School of Physics, Peking University, Beijing, China
e-mail: zhanglg@pku.edu.cn
X. Wang (*) · M. Chang · Q. Wang
Institute for Environmental and Climate Research, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
e-mail: eciwxm@jnu.edu.cn
Q. Zhang
School of Atmospheric Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
© 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_4
67
Modelling Atmospheric Nitrogen
Deposition in China
Lin Zhang, Xuemei Wang, Yuanhong Zhao, Qi Zhang, Ming Chang,
and Qiaoqiao Wang
Abstract Atmospheric chemistry models simulate the physical and chemical transformation of airborne nitrogen (N) compounds and their sinks through wet and dry
deposition. This chapter reviews modelling approaches for simulating atmospheric
N deposition and their recent applications for estimating N deposition to China.
Parameterizations of wet deposition include scavenging via both convective updrafts
and large-scale precipitation. Dry deposition is often simulated as the product of
number density and dry deposition velocity based on the resistance-in-series model
using local land properties and meteorological conditions. Recent modelling studies
have reported the annual total N deposition to China in the range of 7.9–20.1 Tg N
year
À1 . Reduced N (NH x ) accounts for 60–80% of the total, reflecting high NH 3
emissions from agricultural activities in China. Dry deposition contributes 39–62%
of total deposition depending on the specific model. More direct dry deposition
measurements are needed to better evaluate model results. There are also considerable uncertainties in modelling N deposition resulting from the complexity of
deposition mechanisms, the uncertainty of input parameters and the properties of
N components. Future work to improve the deposition mechanisms and N emission
estimates is needed to obtain better modelling of atmospheric N deposition to China.
All authors contributed equally.
L. Zhang (*) · Y. Zhao
Laboratory for Climate and Ocean-Atmosphere Studies, Department of Atmospheric
and Oceanic Sciences, School of Physics, Peking University, Beijing, China
e-mail: zhanglg@pku.edu.cn
X. Wang (*) · M. Chang · Q. Wang
Institute for Environmental and Climate Research, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
e-mail: eciwxm@jnu.edu.cn
Q. Zhang
School of Atmospheric Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
© 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_4
67