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Single-throughput Complementary High-resolution Analytical Techniques for Characterizing Complex Natural Organic Matter Mixtures
Published on: January 7, 2019
Earth Greening Directly Affects Regional Atmospheric Oxidation Chemistry Evidenced by Tibetan Plateau Aerosol Nitrate
Pengfei Chen1,2, Shichang Kang1,3,2, Yilan Li4,5
1State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Science and Frozen Soil Engineering, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China.
Abstract:
Transformation in the vegetation structure influences atmospheric chemistry by modulating the flux and composition of reactive boundary layer gases, yet quantifying its direct impact on oxidation processes remains challenging due to pervasive anthropogenic interference. Here, we present an unprecedented data set of year-round isotopic observations of atmospheric nitrate (δ15N-NO3-, δ18O-NO3-, and Δ17O-NO3-) from 12 minimally disturbed sites across the remote Tibetan Plateau (TP), allowing us to isolate vegetation-driven effects on atmospheric oxidant cycling. We observed consistently lower δ15N-NO3-, Δ17O-NO3-, and δ18O-NO3- values in forested regions, with progressively higher values across shrubland and grassland. Isotopic constraints reveal enhanced soil nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions in forests, while oxygen isotope signals point to a shift toward biogenic volatile organic compound (VOC)-driven NOx oxidation via peroxy radicals (RO2/HO2). This highlights vegetation-specific modulation of atmospheric oxidant regimes. With projected warming and wetting expected to drive forest expansion across the TP, our findings suggest a consequential shift in atmospheric oxidant levels and NOx cycling. We provide direct isotopic evidence that vegetation distribution─not merely biomass extent─systematically structures the chemical pathways of NOx oxidation in remote regions. This vegetation-oxidant coupling highlights a key, underappreciated biogeochemical feedback within high-altitude ecosystems undergoing rapid climate change.
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