Ammonia-biosphere interaction from IASI and ERA5

The global concentration of reactive nitrogen (e.g. NH₃, NO_x and N₂O) has intensely increased since the pre-industrial era. Ammonia (NH₃) is one of the main sources of reactive nitrogen in the atmosphere and plays a crucial role in the formation of inorganic particulate matter, which harms health and deteriorates air quality. In addition to that, the wet/dry deposition of ammonia derivatives affects ecosystems through acidification and eutrophication of soil and water bodies; leading to a loss in biodiversity and intensification of the response to climate change. NH₃ is mainly emitted by biomass burning and agricultural activities. Agriculture contributes to air pollution and is affected by atmospheric composition, meteorology and climate change.

Several studies proved the efficiency of the IASI instrument aboard Metop satellites in measuring ammonia from space. For the last ten years, hotspots of ammonia point sources have been identified and categorized around the world.

In this poster, we explore the interaction of atmospheric ammonia with land, meteorological, and leaf conditions. We look at the temporal variability of ammonia in different regions of the world. The relationship land-ammonia volatilization is assessed by comparing the variability of surface soil moisture and the skin temperature products from the ECMWF latest reanalysis (ERA5) with IASI NH₃ total columns. The meteorology-ammonia relation is examined, by looking at air temperature, humidity, precipitation, planetary boundary layer height, and wind speed/direction. Agricultural seasons in studied regions are detected from space in matter of leaf area per ground area. The crop-ammonia relation is assessed by looking at the Leaf Area Index (LAI) products. The regions examined have been identified as point sources and/or hotspots of ammonia of agricultural and industrial sources (mainly fertilizer industry).

The result of this work will improve our understanding of biosphere-atmosphere interactions, in particular, the relationship between ammonia on the one hand and land, meteorology and crops on the other hand, in different regions in the world.