Characterization of Ammonia, Methane, and Nitrous Oxide Emissions from Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations in Northeastern Colorado.
Atmospheric emissions from animal husbandry are important to both air quality and climate, but are hard to characterize and quantify as they differ significantly due to management practices and livestock type, and they can vary substantially throughout diurnal and seasonal cycles. Using a new mobile laboratory, ammonia (NH3), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), and other trace gas emissions were measured from four concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) in northeastern Colorado. Two dairies, a beef cattle feedlot, and a sheep feedlot were chosen for repeated diurnal and seasonal measurements. A consistent diurnal pattern in the NH3to CH4enhancement ratio is clearly observed, with midday enhancement ratios approximately four times greater than nighttime values. This diurnal pattern is similar, with slight variations in magnitude, at the four CAFOs and across seasons. The average NH3to CH4enhancement ratio from all seasons and CAFOs studied is 0.17 (+0.13/-0.08) mol/mol, in agreement with statewide inventory averages and previous literature. Enhancement ratios for NH3to N2O and N2O to CH4are also reported. The enhancement ratios can be used as a source signature to distinguish feedlot emissions from other NH3and CH4sources, such as fertilizer application and fossil fuel development, and the large diurnal variability is important for refining inventories, models, and emission estimates.
Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES), University of Colorado Boulder , 216 UCB, Boulder, Colorado 80309, United States.|NOAA Earth System Research Laboratory (ESRL) Chemical Sciences Division , 325 Broadway, Boulder, Colorado 80305, United States.
Scott J
SJ
Eilerman
Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES), University of Colorado Boulder , 216 UCB, Boulder, Colorado 80309, United States.|NOAA Earth System Research Laboratory (ESRL) Chemical Sciences Division , 325 Broadway, Boulder, Colorado 80305, United States.
Jeff
J
Peischl
Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES), University of Colorado Boulder , 216 UCB, Boulder, Colorado 80309, United States.|NOAA Earth System Research Laboratory (ESRL) Chemical Sciences Division , 325 Broadway, Boulder, Colorado 80305, United States.
J Andrew
JA
Neuman
NOAA Earth System Research Laboratory (ESRL) Chemical Sciences Division , 325 Broadway, Boulder, Colorado 80305, United States.
Thomas B
TB
Ryerson
Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES), University of Colorado Boulder , 216 UCB, Boulder, Colorado 80309, United States.|NOAA Earth System Research Laboratory (ESRL) Chemical Sciences Division , 325 Broadway, Boulder, Colorado 80305, United States.
Kenneth C
KC
Aikin
NOAA Earth System Research Laboratory (ESRL) Chemical Sciences Division , 325 Broadway, Boulder, Colorado 80305, United States.|Science and Technology Corporation, Hampton, Virginia 23666, United States.
Maxwell W
MW
Holloway
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Princeton University , E209A Olden Street, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, United States.
Mark A
MA
Zondlo
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Princeton University , E209A Olden Street, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, United States.
Levi M
LM
Golston
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Princeton University , E209A Olden Street, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, United States.
Da
D
Pan
Aerodyne Research, Inc., 45 Manning Road, Billerica, Massachusetts 01821-3976, United States.
Cody
C
Floerchinger
Aerodyne Research, Inc., 45 Manning Road, Billerica, Massachusetts 01821-3976, United States.
Scott
S
Herndon