Two options to explain the ammonia gap in The Netherlands

This paper addresses two hypothesis that try to explain the difference observed between the estimated NH₃ emission levels in The Netherlands and those indicated by atmospheric measurements, the so called ‘ammonia gap’: the role of SO₂ emissions regulating ambient NH₃ concentrations through co-deposition, and long-term NH₃ emissions after slurry injection. It was found that throughfall measurements of NH₄⁺ could not be used as indicator for changes in NH₃ emissions. The throughfall deposition of NH₄⁺ is in close equilibrium to SO₄^2? and NO₃^? and is thus regulated by the equilibrium of ambient NH₃ and NH₄⁺ in wet deposition and canopy water layers. When SO₂ emissions decrease, the amount of available SO₄^2? decreases, which imposes a limit on the deposition of (NH₄)₂SO₄. Long-term emissions of NH₃ after application of manure were monitored using a new technique, which continuously measures the concentration of NH₃ in a cross-section of the emission plume downwind of the source. The emissions could be registered for 3 weeks after application of manure. The results indicate that the long-term emissions only contribute 1–2% to the total emission level. Both the effect of SO₂ on the NH₃ deposition levels and the long-term emission fluxes are not enough to explain the observed ammonia gap. It seems that several counteracting effects, some of them emerging from the new emission reduction regulations, contribute to the ammonia gap. An integrated approach to abate ammonia emissions is, therefore, needed. The implementation and regulation of production ceilings for reactive nitrogen might be a good option.