The discovery of urea in the atmosphere would have far-reaching implications for climate and our understanding of atmospheric chemistry. Urea is a nitrogen-containing compound found in urine and produced by living organisms such as humans and other animals. The presence of urea in the atmosphere suggests that there are significant sources of urea emissions, which could be agricultural activities, livestock, or other biological processes.
According to new research, marine life-rich areas of the ocean have a greater impact on our ecosystems and the climate than previously thought.
Scientists at The University of Manchester discovered that the ocean is the primary source of urea, a nitrogen-rich compound essential for the growth and development of living organisms. The findings reveal an important but previously unknown source of reduced nitrogen and provide the first evidence of gaseous urea in the atmosphere.
The study, which was published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, also shows that urea can be transported over long distances through the atmosphere to benefit other nutrient-deficient environments. The findings may have far-reaching implications for marine productivity and climate stability.
Our observations provide new insights into the complex interactions between the atmosphere, ocean and ecosystems. Understanding the behaviour and impact of urea in the atmosphere is vital for advancing our knowledge of how chemicals and substances are transferred through our environment and can help us to inform strategies to address climate change.
Emily Matthews
Emily Matthews, Atmospheric Scientist at The University of Manchester, said: “Our observations provide new insights into the complex interactions between the atmosphere, ocean and ecosystems. Understanding the behaviour and impact of urea in the atmosphere is vital for advancing our knowledge of how chemicals and substances are transferred through our environment and can help us to inform strategies to address climate change.”
The FAAM Airborne Laboratory, a UK airborne research facility managed by the National Centre for Atmospheric Science (NCAS) and owned by UK Research and Innovation and the Natural Environmental Research Council, was used to collect observations of gas-phase urea in the atmosphere over the North Atlantic Ocean.
These flights provide detailed data on the composition and properties of aerosols and gases in the atmosphere. Scientists from The University of Manchester and NCAS have discovered new species that are important to the marine reduced nitrogen cycle, including the first detection of gas-phase urea in the atmosphere.
According to the researchers, the findings have important implications for our understanding of the nitrogen cycle and necessitate a revision of current models.
“The ocean plays an important role in maintaining a stable climate through biological activity occurring near the surface of the water and contributes to oceanic uptake of carbon dioxide,” Emily Matthews added. We now know that it is also a significant source of urea in the atmosphere for the majority of the year, which means that the processes and factors involved in the nitrogen cycle must be modified to account for urea’s newfound importance.”
The nitrogen cycle is the process during which nitrogen moves through both living organisms and physical environments including the atmosphere, soil, water, plants, animals and bacteria. It is central to the composition of the Earth System and changes of the natural environment through interactions such as aerosol formation, ozone production and as a supply of essential nutrients to living organisms.
The cause of the gas phase urea observations is unknown, and more research is needed to fully understand the biogeochemical coupling of nitrogen between the ocean and atmosphere.
The findings represent an important pathway for long-distance nitrogen transport to fertilize nitrogen-deficient regions of the surface ocean. Better understanding of how the ocean biosphere will respond to future changes can be gained by revising this knowledge.
