N2Opäästöjä

N2Opäästöjä refers to emissions of nitrous oxide (N2O), a potent greenhouse gas. It is a colorless gas with a pleasant, sweet smell. Nitrous oxide is the third most significant long-lived greenhouse gas, after carbon dioxide and methane. Its atmospheric concentration has increased significantly since the pre-industrial era, primarily due to human activities.

The main anthropogenic sources of N2O emissions include agriculture, industrial processes, and fossil fuel combustion. In agriculture, the application of nitrogen fertilizers to soils is the largest source. Microorganisms in the soil convert nitrogen compounds into N2O through a process called nitrification and denitrification. Other agricultural sources include livestock manure management and the burning of agricultural residues.

Industrial processes that release N2O include the production of nitric acid, adipic acid (used in the manufacture of nylon), and certain wastewater treatment operations. Nitric acid production is a significant contributor to industrial N2O emissions, though abatement technologies have been implemented in many facilities to reduce this.

Fossil fuel combustion, particularly in vehicles and power plants, also releases N2O, although this is a smaller source compared to agriculture and industrial production.

N2O is a powerful greenhouse gas, with a global warming potential approximately 265 times that of carbon dioxide over a 100-year period. It also contributes to the depletion of the ozone layer. Due to its long atmospheric lifetime, N2O persists in the atmosphere for over 100 years, contributing to long-term climate change. Efforts to mitigate N2O emissions focus on improving fertilizer management in agriculture, adopting cleaner industrial processes, and enhancing emission controls in combustion engines.