Modelling N2O emissions from Irish Agriculture

1
Modelling N2O emissions from Irish Agriculture

• Laura Packham
• MSc by Research
• Supervisors Prof. Keith Smith
• Dr Bernard Hyde (Teagasc)

2
The Importance of N2O

• N2O is a major GHG with a GWP of 296
• N2O indirectly destroys stratospheric ozone
• In Ireland agriculture is a major source of N2O
• - Agriculture emits 30 of Irelands total GHGs
• - N2O is 38 of the entirety agricultural GHGs
  emitted
• Ireland is not meeting its Kyoto targets

3
Why Model N2O emissions?

• To help create a GHG inventory
• To investigate potential mitigation practices
• To model the effects of
• Climate Change on emissions

4
How is N2O emitted? Where from?

• High emissions from pastures with high N inputs
• - typical of Irish conditions
• Mainly by Denitrification
• Main controlling variables
• - WFPS, soil temperature, N source

5
Methods

• Data collection
• (completed by B.Hyde, Ireland 2003)
• Modelling (my work)
• Based on
• Boundary Line Model
• (Conen et al. 2000)
• And
• Simile B-Line2 model
• (J. Massheder K. Smith)

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Simile Model

• Boundary Line Model in the Simile format
• Simile B-Line2 Model with sub-models of
  processes

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My work

• Adjusting the boundary line model for Ireland
• Collecting data for Irish sites to insert into
  B-line2 model
• Running model to estimate N2O emissions from
  Irish sites
• Tuning likely to be necessary
• Upscaling to national level

8

• To be continued..

References Conen, F., Dobbie, K.E. and Smith,
K.A. (2000) Predicting N2O emissions from
agricultural land through related soil
parameters. Global Change Biology, 6,
417-426 EPA, Environmental Protection Agency,
http//www.epa.ie/ImageBank/i98.jpg Hyde, B.
(2005) End of project report 4974 Nitrous Oxide
Emissions, Teagasc Environmental Research Centre,
Johnstown Castle, Ireland. Smith, K and
Massheder, J (2004) Scottish agriculture and
global climate change Nitrous oxide emissions
from fertiliser use. Final Report for the
Scottish Executive. www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/D
oc/30701/0007033.pdf