The distribution of nitrous oxide (N2O) in the global atmosphere and the Pacific Ocean

Hanwant B. Singh; Louis J. Salas; Hisao Shigeishi

doi:10.3402/tellusa.v31i4.10439

The distribution of nitrous oxide (N2O) in the global atmosphere and the Pacific Ocean

Tellus

Volume 31 (1979): Issue 4

By: Hanwant B. Singh, Louis J. Salas and Hisao Shigeishi

Open Access

|Jan 1979

Abstract

Our atmospheric measurements around the globe show that nitrous oxide (N₂O) is uniformly distributed and has an average concentration of 311 ± 2.6 p.p.b. This small atmospheric variability of N₂O suggests an N₂O residence time of greater than 20 years. Our atmospheric N₂O measurements over a 3-year period starting from November 1975 can be interpreted to mean an essentially unchanging background of N₂O. Oceanic data from the Pacific between 46° N and 40° S show a significant surface super-saturation (average surface saturation = 133%) and an average flux of 36 × 10^-14 g (N₂O)/cm² s can be calculated. This oceanic flux when extrapolated to global waters suggests an oceanic N₂O source of 20 to 30 Mt(N₂O)/year (13 to 19 Mt(N)/year)^*.

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