Atmospheric wet, dry and bulk deposition of inorganic nitrogen in the Rio de Janeiro state

Abstract

Reactive nitrogen (Nr) atmospheric inputs on terrestrial ecosystems have increased drastically in the last five decades due to the human activities. Atmospheric depositions (wet and dry) play an important role in the removal of Nr from atmosphere and represent a useful tool to access the level of air pollution. This revision discusses the atmospheric inorganic nitrogen (NH4+ + NO3-) inputs in Rio de Janeiro state (RJ) and their natural and anthropogenic sources. Bulk inorganic nitrogen deposition fluxes sampled by automatic collectors of wet (rainwater) and dry (settling particles) deposition and by bulk collectors were compiled from studies conducted in oceanic (n = 2), coastal urban (n = 2) and Atlantic Forest (n = 7) sites. Fluxes ranged from 4.3 to 17 kg N ha-1 yr-1, with the lowest values found at Ilha Grande and Itatiaia massif (4,3 e 4,6 kg N ha-1 yr-1, respectively) and the highest values at Serra dos Órgãos mountain range (8,2-17 kg N ha-1 yr-1). Wet deposition represents the removal atmospheric process of atmospheric inorganic nitrogen, comprising 83-94% of NH4+ and 57-95% of NO3- deposited. This work will provide subsidies to a better understand about the patterns of atmospheric inorganic nitrogen deposition in RJ state.