New source of global nitrogen discovered

Science Daily  April 4, 2018
Nitrogen is both the most important limiting nutrient on Earth and a dangerous pollutant, so it is important to understand the natural controls on its supply and demand. A team of researchers in the US (UC Davis, industry) found that up to 26 percent of the nitrogen in natural ecosystems is sourced from rocks which is determined by weathering, which can be physical, such as through tectonic movement, or chemical, such as when minerals react with rainwater. According to the study large areas of Africa are devoid of nitrogen-rich bedrock while northern latitudes and mountainous regions like the Himalayas and Andes are estimated to be significant sources of rock nitrogen weathering…read more. TECHNICAL ARTICLE 

The Pinnacles of Gunung Mulu in Borneo are an example of where limestone rock weathering would be expected to produce significant levels of nitrogen.
Credit: © Markus Loretto / Fotolia

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