Project Overview

Nitrous Oxide: The Forgotten Greenhouse Gas

American Chemical Society
ACS Fall 2026, Chicago
Nitrous Oxide: The Forgotten Greenhouse Gas
Joint ENFL and GEOC     

Nitrous oxide (N2O) is an atmospheric greenhouse and ozone depleting gas, more potent than methane and longer lived than carbon dioxide, but present in lower concentrations, hence “forgotten.” The global atmospheric concentration of N2O has steadily increased, currently at 338 ppb, which is about 40% higher than pre-industrial values. Natural sources include microbial nitrification and denitrification processes, but human activity (fossil fuel combustion, agriculture, deforestation, and other land use changes) currently contributes about 40% of the N2O emission, resulting in a mismatch between natural sources and sinks. This session explores N2O sources, sinks, mitigation pathways, the regulatory landscape, and human activities that are the drivers of climate disruption and public health consequences. Aligned with United Nations Sustainability Goals 13) Climate Action and 15) Life on Land.

This symposium is virtual only.

ACS Fall 2026

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Two good reads on climate disruption:

1) Computer-assisted classification of contrarian claims about climate change
Coan, T.G., Boussalis, C., Cook, J. et al. Sci Rep 11, 22320 (2021).
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-01714-4

2) Climate déjà vu
Science, Vol 387, Issue 6733, p. 455 (21 Jan 2025)
https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adw1532

Good Indoor Air Quality requires adequate fresh air exchange. Avoid poorly ventilated indoor areas. Prudent monitoring includes temperature, humidity, carbon monoxide CO, carbon dioxide CO2, volatile organic compounds VOCs, formaldehyde H2CO, and particulates PM2.5. If you do not have a personal monitor, request one from the library of things at your local library.

MERV 13 filters and KN95 masks can slow spreading of aerosols. Observe public health regulations. Prudent practice, including vaccines to provide defense mechanisms.

Michigan Air Quality Dashboard
https://air-egle.hub.arcgis.com/

Wisconsin Air Quality Monitor
https://airquality.wi.gov/home/map

Purple Air
https://www2.purpleair.com/

Local wastewater monitoring is useful in the detection of viruses and other substances of concern in public health. Wisconsin Wastewater Monitoring Program
https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/covid-19/wastewater.htm

Conference Organization

ACS Fall 2026, Chicago, August 23-27
JOINT ENFL & GEOC
Atmospheric Methane: Sources, Sinks, and Solutions
https://callforabstracts.acs.org/acsfall2026

ACS Spring 2026, Atlanta, March 22-26
JOINT ENFL, ENVR, GEOC, I&EC
Methane: Chemistry of a Greenhouse Gas

Atlantic Basin Conference on Chemistry
ABCChem December 2026
Chemical engineering process technology research for global sustainability
https://abcchem.org/

Pacifichem 2025
Honolulu, December 15-20
Approaching Steady-State Atmospheric Methane in the Anthropocene
https://pacifichem.org