Nitrogen emissions: Jena research warns of underestimated climate consequences

Nitrogen emissions: Jena research warns of underestimated climate consequences

The effects of human nitrogen emissions on the climate

A current analysis of the complex interactions between nitrogen compounds from agriculture and their role in global warming offers new knowledge. This research, led by scientists from the Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry in Jena, shows that nitrogen compounds overall have a cooling effect on the global average temperature. This could initially appear positive, but the accompanying negative consequences are alarming.

The double role of nitrogen

Nitrogen is a gas that occurs naturally in the atmosphere. However, there are also human activities that release additional nitrogen compounds. This includes agricultural practices such as the use of manure and synthetic fertilizers. Nitrogen oxides are also created when combining fossil fuels such as oil and coal, which contribute significantly to air pollution. These nitrogen emissions not only affect the climate, but also represent a health risk.

negative consequences for the environment

According to the researchers of the Max Planck Institute, the global temperature could have increased even more without human nitrogen entries. The institute director Sönke Zaehle warns that this knowledge should not be interpreted as a reason to trivialize the environmental impact of nitrogen emissions or even to be regarded as a possible solution against global warming. "The negative consequences of nitrogen emissions for health, biodiversity and the ozone layer are serious," he explains. This assessment shows that a slightly positive signal in an otherwise worrying situation should not lead to distracting from the urgency of environmentally friendly solutions.

hidden risks of laughing gas

A particularly worrying aspect is the influence of laughing gas that escapes from fertilized soils. According to the study, Lachgas is extremely strong greenhouse gas, the climate effect of which is almost 300 times isolated from carbon dioxide. This fact underlines the need to critically question the vertical to nitrogen fertilization and to promote more sustainable alternatives in agriculture.

The importance of research

The results of this investigation illustrate the complex relationships between human activities, climatic changes and the environment. Although it seems that nitrogen contains global warming somewhat, the negative effects predominate. It is therefore of great importance to critically reduce emissions and to implement environmentally friendly practices in agriculture. Research makes a valuable contribution to understanding these dynamics and gives the company important indications of how it can contribute to combating climate change.

- Nag