![]() Recently 13, a hyperresolved (0.01° × 0.01°) world map of NH 3 was presented, following the combined exploitation of all available IASI satellite data over ten years and a series of algorithmic improvements 14. Satellite measurements are currently available from four instruments: AIRS 9, TES 10, CrIS 11 and IASI 12. Sources of atmospheric ammonia include animal waste, fertilizers, combustion (biomass burning, waste burning, transport), industry (production of chemicals, manufacturing processes), soils, plants and oceans 3, 6, 7.Ībout a decade ago, it was discovered that infrared satellites can detect and measure atmospheric NH 3, which resulted in the first measurement-based global maps of its distribution 8. Largely due to the widespread availability of industrially fixed nitrogen 2, atmospheric emissions of NH 3 are increasing steadily 3, 4, with devastating effects on air quality, ecosystems and climate 5. As a by-product, we also show that hyperspectral infrared sounders such as IASI are capable of mapping different types of evaporative minerals such as trona and thermonatrite.Īmmonia (NH 3) plays a critical role in the global biogeochemical cycle of nitrogen 1 as one of the key components of reactive nitrogen. We formulate six processes that may explain why the largest losses are observed specifically over concentrated brines and/or exposed sediments. High temperatures and alkalinity are known to promote NH 3 losses from soda lakes. ![]() The likely source of NH 3 at Lake Natron is decomposition of organic material, either from rivers and springs or produced in the lake (plankton, bird excreta). The timing is different from the agricultural dominated NH 3 emissions in the wider Natron area, which peak early in the year, after the first wet season. The largest NH 3 column loadings generally occur at the end of the dry season in September–November over Lake Natron’s largest mudflat, that is exposed with receding water levels. Temporal analysis reveals that the emissions are episodic and linked with the lake’s surface area. Here we explore 10 years of IASI NH 3 satellite data and other publicly available datasets over the area to characterize the natural NH 3 emissions in this unique ecosystem. Its remote location and the absence of nearby large anthropogenic sources suggest that the observed NH 3 is mainly of natural origin. The lake is in the centre of an endorheic (limited drainage) basin and has shallow, saline-alkaline waters. This has allowed the lake to concentrate into a caustic alkaline brine.In a recent global analysis of satellite-derived atmospheric NH 3 data, a hotspot was observed in the vicinity of Lake Natron, Tanzania. The lavas have significant amounts of carbonate but very low calcium and magnesium levels. The surrounding bedrock is made of alkaline, sodium-dominated trachyte lavas that were laid down during the Pleistocene period. ![]() The alkalinity of the lake can reach a pH of greater than 12. High levels of evaporation have left behind natron ( sodium carbonate decahydrate) and trona (sodium sesquicarbonate dihydrate). Temperatures at the lake are frequently above 40 ☌ (104 ☏). The total rainfall is about 800 millimetres (31 in) per year. Most of the rain occurs between December and May. In the surrounding area rain is infrequent. The lake is a maximum of 57 kilometres (35 mi) long and 22 kilometres (14 mi) wide. It is less than three metres (9.8 ft) deep. The lake is mainly fed by the Southern Ewaso Ng'iro River, which rises in central Kenya, and by mineral-rich hot springs. ![]() Numerous near-white salt-crust "rafts" pepper the shallowest parts of the lake (inset). Fault scarps and the Gelai Volcano can also be seen.
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