Nitrogen Oxides

NO_x emissions

Historical emission estimates of nitrous oxide for the United States are presented in Gschwandtner et al. (1985). The total country estimates are presented in several ways, per fuel type (bituminous coal, residual oil, distillate oil, natural gas, gasoline + diesel and other), and per source category (electric utilities, industrial, pipelines, highway vehicles and other) for the period 1900 - 1980. Emission estimates per state are presented as totals. Placet (1991) presents U.S. NO₂ emission estimates for 1900 - 1970 and 1970 - 1988 (Total U.S. NO₂ emissions increased between 1900 and 1970 almost tenfold from 2 to 18 Tg, but emissions in 1988 are estimated to be lower by 9-15% than at their peak in 1978 (Placet, 1991).

• Download table: NO₂ emission estimates (xls, 25Kb) 

Major sources in 1990 were road transport (31%), power generation (20%) and industrial fuel combustion (11%). Also savannah burning (9%) and agricultural waste burning (7%) were important sources of NO_x. Regional contributions were largest in the USA (24%), OECD Europe (13%), Africa (12%), former USSR and the China region (both 11%).

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