Ammonia (NH3) emissions characterization from agricultural soil sources from the NH3_STAT statistical model from 1990-01-01 to 2019-01-01 (NCEI Accession 0207181)

This dataset contains statistical model (NH3_STAT) data. Global ammonia (NH3) emissions into the atmosphere are projected to increase in the coming years with the increased use of synthetic nitrogen fertilizers and cultivation of nitrogen-fixing crops. A statistical model (NH3_STAT) is developed for characterizing atmospheric NH3 emissions from agricultural soil sources, and compared to the performance of other global and regional NH3 models (e.g., EDGAR, MASAGE, MIX and U.S. EPA). The statistical model was developed by expressing a multiple linear regression equation between NH3 emission and the physicochemical variables. The model was evaluated for 2012 NH3 emissions. The results indicate that, in comparison to other data sets, the model provides a lower global NH3 estimate by 57%, (NH3_STAT: 13.9 Tg N yr-1; EDGAR: 33.0 Tg N yr-1). We also performed a region-based analysis (U.S., India, and China) using the NH3_STAT model. For the U.S., our model produces an estimate that is 143% higher in comparison to EPA. Meanwhile, the NH3_STAT model estimate for India shows NH3 emissions between -0.8 and 1.4 times lower when compared to other data sets. A lower estimate is also seen for China, where the model estimates NH3 emissions 0.4-5 times lower than other datasets. The difference in the global estimates is attributed to the lower estimates in major agricultural countries like China and India. The statistical model captures the spatial distribution of global NH3 emissions by utilizing a simplified approach compared to other readily available datasets. Moreover, the NH3_STAT model provides an opportunity to predict future NH3 emissions in a changing world.