Changes in biomass burning, wetland extent, or agriculture drive atmospheric NH₃ trends in select African regions

16 November 2021

Ammonia (NH₃) gas emitted from soils and biomass burning contributes to particulate air pollution. The authors used satellite observations of the atmosphere over Africa to show that declines in NH₃ concentrations over South Sudan's Sudd wetland in 2008–2017 are related to variation in wetland extent. They also find NH₃ concentrations increased in West Africa as a result of biomass burning and increased in the Lake Victoria region, likely due to agricultural expansion and intensification.

The press release by NASA can be found at: https://www.nasa.gov/feature/enst/2021/nasa-study-traces-decade-of-ammonia-air-pollution-in-africa

Contact: Jonathan E. Hickman (jonathan.e.hickman@nasa.gov)