Abstract
Abstract. Simulation of atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition in the North China Plain (NCP) at high resolution, 5 × 5 km2, was conducted for the first time by the Fine Resolution Atmospheric Multi-pollutant Exchange (FRAME) model. The total N deposition budget was 1481 Gg in this region, with 77 % from reduced N and 23 % from oxidized N, and the annual deposition rate (47 kg N ha−1) was much higher than previously reported values for other parts of the world such as the UK (13 kg N ha−1), Poland (7.3 kg N ha−1) and EU27 (8.6 kg N ha−1). The exported N component (1981 Gg) was much higher than the imported N component (584 Gg), suggesting that the NCP is an important net emission source of N pollutants. Contributions of N deposition budgets from the seven provinces in this region were proportional to their area ratios. The calculated spatial distributions of N deposition displayed high rates of reduced N deposition in the south and of oxidized N deposition in the eastern part. The N deposition exceeded an upper limit of 30 kg N ha−1 for natural ecosystems over more than 90 % of the region, resulting in terrestrial ecosystem deterioration, impaired air quality and coastal eutrophication not only in the NCP itself but also in surrounding areas including the Bohai Sea and the Yellow Sea.
Highlights
Nitrogenous pollutant (NH3 and NOx) emissions have increased sharply in the last three decades in China due to the rapid development of agriculture and industry (GAINS, 2009; EDGAR, 2011; REAS, 2006)
The average grid square deposition of 47 kg N ha−1 yr1 was 3–5 times higher than values obtained for European countries
The N deposition exceeded an upper limit of 30 kg N ha−1 for critical loads for natural ecosystems in more than 90 % of the region and the critical level for ammonia concentrations of 3 μg m−3 for all plant species was exceeded in over 90 % of the region
Summary
Nitrogenous pollutant (NH3 and NOx) emissions have increased sharply in the last three decades in China due to the rapid development of agriculture and industry (GAINS, 2009; EDGAR, 2011; REAS, 2006). The seven major provinces on the NCP, namely Beijing, Tianjing, Hebei, Shandong, Henan, Jiangsu and Anhui, share only 8 % of the total area of China but contribute 37 % of the total national GDP (China Statistical Yearbook, 2009) They consume 27 % of the total N fertilizer and 26 % of the total energy nationally (China Statistical Yearbook, 2009), making the NCP one of the great emitters of nitrogenous pollutants (Wang et al, 2005; Zhang et al, 2010; Richter et al, 2005; Clarisse et al, 2009) and one of the high N deposition areas both nationally and globally (Zhang et al, 2008; Shen et al, 2009; He et al, 2010). It is critical to model the long-range transport and regional distribution of N concentration and deposition at higher resolution in this N deposition “hotspot”
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
