Integral nitrogen theme

Nitrogen compounds are released into the atmosphere during the combustion of fossil fuels. Farming is a major source of nitrogen emissions. Nitrogen compounds cause overfertilisation and acidification of nature reserves and surface water, climate change, health damage and monument damage, among other things. As the various nitrogen compounds are constantly converted into one another, the nitrogen cycle is studied as a whole.  

Within this theme, we wish to develop knowledge and help address policy issues relating to the following areas:  

• The relationship between nitrogen emissions, air quality and climate
• Distinguishing between emissions from energy-related sources, on the one hand, and farming and cattle breeding, on the other
• The influence of the production of biomass and food on the nitrogen cycle
• The relationship between the carbon cycle and the nitrogen cycle
• The optimisation of networks for monitoring over long periods
• An explanation for the “ammonia hole”: the difference between predicted and measured concentrations  

We achieve this by:  

• Developing easy-to-use, affordable measuring instruments for determining the transport of ammonia and nitrous oxide from the soil to the atmosphere and in the opposite direction
• Studying the emission of particulate matter by the livestock industry and the effects of emission-reducing measures.