Measuring Ammonia Emissions along the Front Range: Towards an Understanding of Nitrogen Deposition in Rocky Mountain National Park

Poster Number: 
258
Presenter/Primary Author: 
Jay Ham
Co-Authors: 
Karen Galles
Co-Authors: 
Joshua Stratton
Co-Authors: 
Thomas Borch

Wet deposition of ammonium in Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP) and along the eastern slope of the Rocky Mountains has reached a “critical load” where negative impacts on alpine ecosystems are evident. Results from the recently completed Rocky Mountain Atmospheric Nitrogen and Sulfur Study (RoMANS) suggest that many different sources are contributing to atmospheric nitrogen deposition in the park. Sources include long distance transport from western states, regional contributions from agricultural and urban sites in Colorado, and local emissions from soils within the park. Unfortunately, very few measurements of ammonia emissions from these potential sources have been made. Lack of accurate emissions data greatly limits modeling efforts and the correct assignment of source attribution for nitrogen deposited in RMNP. This poster describes new techniques that are being used to measure ammonia fluxes at multiple scales and at sites with widely differing characteristics (e.g., cattle feedlot pens, urban corridors, forest soils). Methods under development include: tower-based micrometeorological techniques, the use of long-path lasers and inverse modeling, dynamic field chambers, and a laboratory system for intact soil cores. Example data from these different measurement systems will be presented.