Study Reveals Underestimated Soil NOx Emissions in California’s Salton Sea Basin
A groundbreaking study from the University of California, Davis, has revealed that at least one-quarter of all nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions in California’s Salton Sea air basin originate from soil. This finding suggests that soil emissions in the region are significantly higher than previously recorded.
Using advanced isotopic analysis, the researchers discovered that the annual total soil emissions for the basin average about 9.98 tonnes per day. This figure is ten times larger than the state’s current inventory for soil NOx emissions in the region, as detailed in the study recently published in the Nature journal Scientific Reports.
The study highlights a critical need to better understand and account for emissions from agricultural soils. By doing so, policymakers and regulators can develop more effective strategies to comply with state and federal air quality regulations. Improved management of soil emissions is essential for enhancing air quality in rural areas like Imperial Valley and Coachella Valley, as well as other agriculturally active regions in warm climates across the United States.
The Salton Sea air basin is among the most polluted in the United States. Extending from Palm Springs through the Coachella Valley and into the Imperial Valley before ending at the Mexican border in Calexico, the region faces significant air quality challenges.
Nitrogen oxides are central air pollutants that serve as precursors to the atmospheric production of both ozone and particulate matter. Elevated levels of these pollutants can have adverse effects on human health and the environment.
This study underscores the importance of reevaluating emission inventories and considering the substantial impact of soil emissions. Enhanced monitoring and management could lead to better air quality outcomes not only for the Salton Sea basin but also for similar regions globally.
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Study shows overlooked NOx emissions in California's Salton Sea basin
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