The European Nitrogen Assessment

by Sutton, Mark A.; Howard, Clare M.; Erisman, Jan Willem; Billen, Gilles; Bleeker, Albert

• ISBN13: 9781107006126
• ISBN10: 1107006120
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2011-05-09
• Publisher: Cambridge Univ Pr

Summary

Presenting the first continental-scale assessment of reactive nitrogen in the environment, this book sets the related environmental problems in context by providing a multidisciplinary introduction to the nitrogen cycle processes. Issues of upscaling from farm plot and city to national and continental scales are addressed in detail with emphasis on opportunities for better management at local to global levels. The five key societal threats posed by reactive nitrogen are assessed, providing a framework for joined-up management of the nitrogen cycle in Europe, including the first cost-benefit analysis for different reactive nitrogen forms and future scenarios. Incorporating comprehensive maps, a handy technical synopsis and a summary for policy makers, this landmark volume is an essential reference for academic researchers across a wide range of disciplines, as well as stakeholders and policy makers. It is also a valuable tool in communicating the key environmental issues and future challenges to the wider public.

Table of Contents

List of contributors

Preface

Summary for policymakers

Technical summary

Assessing our nitrogen inheritance

Nitrogen in Europe: The Present Position

The European nitrogen problem in a global perspective

Benefits of nitrogen for food fibre and industrial production

Nitrogen in current European policies

The challenge to integrate nitrogen science and policies

Nitrogen Processing in the Biosphere

Nitrogen processes in terrestrial ecosystems

Nitrogen processes in aquatic ecosystems

Nitrogen processes in coastal and marine ecosystems

Nitrogen processes in the atmosphere

Nitrogen Flows and Fate at Multiple Scales

Nitrogen flows in farming systems across Europe

Nitrogen flows and fate in rural landscapes

Nitrogen flows and fate in urban landscapes

Nitrogen flows from European watersheds to coastal marine waters

Atmospheric transport and deposition of nitrogen in Europe

Geographic variation in terrestrial nitrogen budgets across Europe

Integrating nitrogen fluxes at the European scale

Key Societal Threats of Nitrogen

Nitrogen as a threat to European water quality

Nitrogen as a threat to European air quality

Nitrogen as a threat to the European greenhouse balance

Nitrogen as a threat to European terrestrial biodiversity

Nitrogen as a threat to European soil quality

European Nitrogen Policies and Future Challenges

Costs and benefits of nitrogen in the environment

Developing integrated approaches to nitrogen management

Future scenarios of nitrogen in Europe

Coordinating European nitrogen policies between directives and international conventions

Societal choice and communicating the European nitrogen challenge

Glossary

Index

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