What layer of the atmosphere is nitrogen dioxide found?

troposphere
In the troposphere near the Earth’s surface, ozone forms through the splitting of molecules by sunlight as it does in the stratosphere. However in the troposphere, nitrogen dioxide, not molecular oxygen, provides the primary source of the oxygen atoms required for ozone formation.

Is NO2 in the troposphere?

In the troposphere, photolysis of NO2 is the only known route for ozone formation. As ozone is also rapidly destroyed by reaction with NO, nitrogen oxides (NOx = NO + NO2) and ozone are often in photochemical equilibrium in the troposphere.

What is nitrogen dioxide in the air?

What Is Nitrogen Dioxide? Nitrogen dioxide, or NO2, is a gaseous air pollutant composed of nitrogen and oxygen and is one of a group of related gases called nitrogen oxides, or NOx. NO2 forms when fossil fuels such as coal, oil, gas or diesel are burned at high temperatures.

Where does NOx come from?

These gases form when fuel is burned at high temperatures. NOx pollution is emitted by automobiles, trucks and various non-road vehicles (e.g., construction equipment, boats, etc.) as well as industrial sources such as power plants, industrial boilers, cement kilns, and turbines. NOx often appears as a brownish gas.

How is NO2 formed in the atmosphere?

Both NO and NO2 are formed during high-temperature combustion in the atmosphere, when oxygen combines with nitrogen. The exhaust gases of cars and trucks are major sources of nitrogen oxides, as are the emissions from electrical power generation plants.

Is nitrogen dioxide a greenhouse gas?

Neither nitric oxide nor nitrogen dioxide are greenhouse gases, although they are important in the process of creation of tropospheric ozone which is a greenhouse gas. There are several sources of nitrous oxide, both natural and anthropogenic (human), to the atmosphere with many of these sources difficult to measure.

What happens to nitrous oxide in the stratosphere?

Nitrous oxide, like CFCs, is stable when emitted at ground level, but breaks down when it reaches the stratosphere to form other gases, called nitrogen oxides, that trigger ozone-destroying reactions. Story Source: Materials provided by National Oceanic And Atmospheric Administration.

Where does NO in the stratosphere come from?

In the stratosphere NO is derived from the photochemical decomposition of nitrous oxide (N2O, see Section 3) and is involved in one of the main catalytic ozone (O3) reaction cycles (Crutzen, 1970, 1996).

What are the two major sources of nitrogen dioxide and where are they located?

Sources of Nitrogen Oxides Natural sources include volcanoes, oceans, biological decay, and lightning strikes. Human activities add another 24 million tons of nitrogen oxides to our atmosphere annually. Both NO and NO2 are formed during high-temperature combustion in the atmosphere, when oxygen combines with nitrogen.

Which is the largest source of production of nitrous oxide?

But the largest source of nitrous oxide is agriculture, particularly fertilized soil and animal waste, and that makes it harder to rein in. “One could imagine limiting carbon dioxide, less methane, less of lots of things. But nitrous oxide is so much a food production issue,” Ravishankara said.

How does nitrogen dioxide cause global warming?

Like other greenhouse gases, nitrous oxide absorbs radiation and traps heat in the atmosphere, where it can live for an average of 114 years, according to the EPA. That puts it in a sort-of middle ground of super pollutants.

How long does nitrogen dioxide stay in the atmosphere?

Thus although methane is a potent greenhouse gas, its effect is relatively short-lived. Nitrous oxide is destroyed in the stratosphere and removed from the atmosphere more slowly than methane, persisting for around 114 years.

How does nitrogen dioxide affect the ozone layer?

Nitrogen oxides contribute most to ozone depletion just above where ozone concentrations are the largest. This leads to efficient ozone destruction from NOx (13). The ODP of N2O is lower than that of CFCs primarily because only ~10% of N2O is converted to NOx, whereas the CFCs potentially contribute all their chlorine.

How are nitrogen oxides introduced into the atmosphere?

In large cities, nitrogen oxides are produced from fuel combustion in mobile and stationary sources. The combustion of gasoline in automobiles emit nitrogen oxides into the atmosphere (mobile source). Stationary emissions come from coal fired power plants, electric power plant boilers.

What is the most abundant greenhouse gas in the atmosphere?

Water vapor is the most abundant greenhouse gas in the atmosphere.

Is nitrogen dioxide is a greenhouse gas?

How do you remove NO2 from the air?

Steps to Reduce Exposure

  1. Keep gas appliances properly adjusted.
  2. Consider purchasing a vented space heater when replacing an un-vented one.
  3. Use proper fuel in kerosene space heaters.
  4. Install and use an exhaust fan vented to outdoors over gas stoves.
  5. Open flues when fireplaces are in use.

Is NO2 a greenhouse gas?

Nitrous oxide (N2O) gas should not be confused with nitric oxide (NO) or nitrogen dioxide (NO2). Neither nitric oxide nor nitrogen dioxide are greenhouse gases, although they are important in the process of creation of tropospheric ozone which is a greenhouse gas.

Which gas is most harmful to the ozone layer?

4.6

  • Chlorofluorocarbon gas is the most harmful to the ozone layer.
  • Chlorofluorocarbons contain carbon, chlorine, and fluorine.
  • It allows more alpha rays from the sun to reach the surface of the earth which may lead to skin cancer.

How is nitrogen dioxide formed in air under thunderstorm?

It is all the result of chemistry. The rapid heating and cooling of the gases within a lightning bolt produces nitric oxide (NO), which combines with oxygen to create nitrogen dioxide (NO2), especially when it’s moving downwind.