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Urbanization can accelerate climate change by increasing soil N2 O emission while reducing CH4 uptake
Yang Zhan1,2, Zhisheng Yao1, Peter M Groffman3
1State Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Boundary Layer Physics and Atmospheric Chemistry, Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China.
Global Change Biology
|February 24, 2023
Summary
Urbanization significantly increases soil nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions and decreases methane (CH4) uptake. Mitigation strategies include reducing soil compaction and fertilizer use in urban areas.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Biogeochemistry
- Urban Ecology
Background:
- Urban land-use change impacts global carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) cycles.
- Greenhouse gas (GHG) fluxes are significantly altered by urbanization.
Approach:
- A meta-analysis assessed urbanization's effects on soil N2O and CH4 fluxes.
- Quantified direct N2O emission factors (EFd) for fertilized urban soils.
- Identified key drivers of flux changes due to urbanization.
Key Points:
- Urbanization increases soil N2O emissions by 153% and reduces CH4 uptake by 50%.
- Global mean annual N2O EFd of fertilized urban lawns/forests is 1.4%.
- Changes are linked to soil properties, temperature, and management practices like fertilization.
Conclusions:
- Urbanization intensifies N2O emissions and diminishes the soil's capacity to absorb atmospheric CH4.
- Mitigation involves reducing soil compaction, limiting fertilizer application, and restoring urban ecosystems.
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