A GLOBAL HIGH-RESOLUTION EMISSION INVENTORY FOR AMMONIA

A global emissions inventory for ammonia (NH3) has been compiled for t he main known sources on a 1 degrees x 1 degrees grid, suitable for in put to global atmospheric models. The estimated global emission for 19 90 is about 54 Tg N yr(-1). The major sources identified include excre ta from domestic animals (21.6 Tg N yr(-1)) and wild animals (0.1 Tg N yr(-1)), use of synthetic N fertilizers (9.0 Tg N yr(-1)), oceans (8. 2 Tg N yr(-1)), biomass burning (5.9 Tg N yr(-1)), crops (3.6 Tg N yr( -1)), human population and pets (2.6 Tg N yr(-1)), soils under natural vegetation (2.4 Tg N yr(-1)), industrial processes (0.2 Tg N yr(-1)), and fossil fuels (0.1 Tg N yr(-1)). About half of the global emission comes from Asia, and about 70% is related to food production. The reg ions with highest emission rates are located in Europe, the Indian sub continent, and China, reflecting the patterns of animal densities and type and intensity of synthetic fertilizer use. The overall uncertaint y in the global emission estimate is 25%, while the uncertainty in reg ional emissions is much greater. As the global human population will s how considerable growth in the coming decades, food production and ass ociated NH3 emissions are likely to increase as well.