A groundbreaking study from the University of California, Davis has revealed that soil emissions account for at least one-quarter of all nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions in California's Salton Sea air basin. This finding challenges existing estimates and underscores the complexity of air pollution sources in the region.
Using advanced isotopic analysis, researchers determined that the annual total soil emissions for the basin average approximately 9.98 tonnes per day. This figure is ten times larger than the current state inventory for soil NOx emissions in the area, as reported in the recent publication in Scientific Reports, a journal by Nature.
The study emphasizes the critical need to better understand and accurately account for emissions from agricultural soils. Improved data is essential for complying with both state and federal air quality regulations, and for enhancing air quality in the rural areas of the Imperial Valley and Coachella Valley, as well as other agriculturally active regions in the United States with warm climates.
The Salton Sea is recognized as one of the most polluted air basins in the United States. Stretching from Palm Springs through the Coachella Valley and into the Imperial Valley before reaching the Mexican border in Calexico, the region faces significant environmental challenges.
NOx is a central air pollutant that plays a key role in the formation of ozone and particulate matter in the atmosphere, both of which have serious implications for public health and the environment.
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Study shows overlooked NOx emissions in California's Salton Sea basin
cgtn.com
