Estimated Sources and Sinks of Nitrous Oxide

Range
(TgN per year)

Source

Oceans

1.4 - 2.6

Soils

-(tropical forests)

2.2 - 3.7

-(temperate forests)

0.7 - 1.5

Combustion

0.1 - 0.3

Biomass Burning

0.02 - 0.2

Fertilizer (including ground-water)

0.01 - 2.2

TOTAL:

4.4 - 10.5

Sink

Removal by soils

?

Photolysis in the stratosphere

7 - 13

Atmospheric Increase

3 - 4.5

Adapted from Houghton, J.T., G.J. Jenkins and J.J. Ephraums, Eds. Climate Change, The IPCC Scientific Assessment, 1990. Cambridge University Press.

	Range (TgN per year)

Source
Oceans	1.4 - 2.6
Soils
-(tropical forests)	2.2 - 3.7
-(temperate forests)	0.7 - 1.5
Combustion	0.1 - 0.3
Biomass Burning	0.02 - 0.2
Fertilizer (including ground-water)	0.01 - 2.2
TOTAL:	4.4 - 10.5
Sink
Removal by soils	?
Photolysis in the stratosphere	7 - 13
Atmospheric Increase	3 - 4.5