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Title: Protocols for Assessing Transformation Rates of Nitrous Oxide in the Water Column
Nitrous oxide (N 2 O) is a potent greenhouse gas and an ozone destroying substance. Yet, clear step-by-step protocols to measure N 2 O transformation rates in freshwater and marine environments are still lacking, challenging inter-comparability efforts. Here we present detailed protocols currently used by leading experts in the field to measure water-column N 2 O production and consumption rates in both marine and other aquatic environments. We present example 15 N-tracer incubation experiments in marine environments as well as templates to calculate both N 2 O production and consumption rates. We discuss important considerations and recommendations regarding (1) precautions to prevent oxygen (O 2 ) contamination during low-oxygen and anoxic incubations, (2) preferred bottles and stoppers, (3) procedures for 15 N-tracer addition, and (4) the choice of a fixative. We finally discuss data reporting and archiving. We expect these protocols will make 15 N-labeled N 2 O transformation rate measurements more accessible to the wider community and facilitate future inter-comparison between different laboratories.  more » « less
Award ID(s):
1840868 1850983
NSF-PAR ID:
10280249
Author(s) / Creator(s):
; ; ; ; ; ; ;
Date Published:
Journal Name:
Frontiers in Marine Science
Volume:
8
ISSN:
2296-7745
Format(s):
Medium: X
Sponsoring Org:
National Science Foundation
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