Researchers at The University of Manchester discovered that the chief source of urea, which is a nitrogen-rich compound essential for the development and growth of living organisms, comes from the ocean.
Vila Franca Islet, São Miguel Island, Azores, Portugal (PPL1-Corrected). Image Credit: Photo: Jules Verne Times Two / julesvernex2.com / CC-BY-SA-4.0 /
The observations show an essential but unaccounted-for source of minimized nitrogen and provide the first-ever observations of gaseous urea in the air.
The study was published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. It also shows that urea can be carried across long distances via the atmosphere to take advantage of other environments that might be deficient in nutrition.
The findings could have wide-ranging consequences for climate stability and marine productivity.
Our observations provide new insights into the complex interactions between the atmosphere, ocean, and ecosystems. Understanding the behavior 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, Atmospheric Scientist, The University of Manchester
The observations of gas-phase urea in the atmosphere were gathered over the North Atlantic Ocean with the aid of the FAAM Airborne Laboratory, which is a UK airborne research facility that is controlled by the National Centre for Atmospheric Science (NCAS) and possessed by the UK Research and Innovation and the Natural Environmental Research Council.
Understanding the behavior 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, Atmospheric Scientist, The University of Manchester
Measurements that were made at the time of these flights offer elaborate data on the properties and composition of gases and aerosols in the atmosphere. Researchers from The University of Manchester and NCAS have found unique species essential to the marine reduced nitrogen cycle, along with the first observations of gas-phase urea in the atmosphere.
The scientists state that the results have noteworthy consequences for the comprehension of the nitrogen cycle and call for a revision of the existing 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. We now know that it is also a significant source of urea in the atmosphere throughout most of the year, which means we need to modify the processes and factors involved in the nitrogen cycle to account for the newfound importance of urea.
Emily Matthews, Atmospheric Scientist, The University of Manchester
The nitrogen cycle is the process during which nitrogen mobilizes via living organisms and physical environments along with the soil, atmosphere, water, animals, plants, and bacteria. It is important to the composition of the Earth System and variations of the natural environment via communications—like ozone production, aerosol formation, and as a supply of vital nutrients to living organisms.
The explanation for the observations of gas-phase urea stays a mystery, and more studies are required to completely comprehend the biogeochemical coupling of nitrogen between the atmosphere and oceans.
The study outcomes show an essential way for long-range transport of nitrogen to fertilize nitrogen-poor areas of the surface ocean. Revising this data better aids in understanding how the ocean biosphere will react to changes in the future.
Journal Reference
Mathews, E., et al. (2023). Airborne observations over the North Atlantic Ocean reveal the importance of gas-phase urea in the atmosphere. PNAS. doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2218127120