The European Nitrogen Assessment

Presenting the first continental-scale assessment of reactive nitrogen in the environment, this book sets the related environmental problems in context by providing a multidisciplinary introduction to the nitrogen cycle processes. Issues of upscaling from farm plot and city to national and continental scales are addressed in detail with emphasis on opportunities for better management at local to global levels. The five key societal threats posed by reactive nitrogen are assessed, providing a framework for joined-up management of the nitrogen cycle in Europe, including the first cost-benefit analysis for different reactive nitrogen forms and future scenarios. Incorporating comprehensive maps, a handy technical synopsis and a summary for policy makers, this landmark volume is an essential reference for academic researchers across a wide range of disciplines, as well as stakeholders and policy makers. It is also a valuable tool in communicating the key environmental issues and future challenges to the wider public.

Spis treści:
List of contributors
Preface
Summary for policymakers
Technical summary
1. Assessing our nitrogen inheritance
Part I. Nitrogen in Europe, The Present Position
2. The European nitrogen problem in a global perspective
3. Benefits of nitrogen for food fibre and industrial production
4. Nitrogen in current European policies
5. The challenge to integrate nitrogen science and policies
Part II. Nitrogen Processing in the Biosphere
6. Nitrogen processes in terrestrial ecosystems
7. Nitrogen processes in aquatic ecosystems
8. Nitrogen processes in coastal and marine ecosystems
9. Nitrogen processes in the atmosphere
Part III. Nitrogen Flows and Fate at Multiple Scales
10. Nitrogen flows in farming systems across Europe
11. Nitrogen flows and fate in rural landscapes
12. Nitrogen flows and fate in urban landscapes
13. Nitrogen flows from European watersheds to coastal marine waters
14. Atmospheric transport and deposition of nitrogen in Europe
15. Geographic variation in terrestrial nitrogen budgets across Europe
16. Integrating nitrogen fluxes at the European scale
Part IV. Key Societal Threats of Nitrogen
17. Nitrogen as a threat to European water quality
18. Nitrogen as a threat to European air quality
19. Nitrogen as a threat to the European greenhouse balance
20. Nitrogen as a threat to European terrestrial biodiversity
21. Nitrogen as a threat to European soil quality
Part V. European Nitrogen Policies and Future Challenges
22. Costs and benefits of nitrogen in the environment
23. Developing integrated approaches to nitrogen management
24. Future scenarios of nitrogen in Europe
25. Coordinating European nitrogen policies between directives and international conventions
26. Societal choice and communicating the European nitrogen challenge
Glossary
Index.