Inorganic mechanism driving mysterious surge of powerful greenhouse gas

A photograph of the Cubillas reservoir in southeast Spain

Source: © Elizabeth Leon-Palmero

Sunlight triggers nitrous oxide production in ocean surface water

Much of the nitrous oxide entering the atmosphere from the oceans could be formed by a previously unknown inorganic route. The mechanism, uncovered by researchers in Denmark and Spain, could explain why emissions of nitrous oxide – a powerful greenhouse gas and ozone-depleting agent – exceed those predicted in models used by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.