Summary:
Nitrogen is a nutrient for growing plants, although, when farmers and home owners don't know how much to add, it can lead to being a pollutant. When there is excess nitrogen it can gas off and become N2O or it can come from car exhaust as N2O (Nitrous oxide). When the nitrous oxide reacts with UV rays and VOCs it breaks into N2 and O. The oxygen reacts with O2 to become O3, which at ground level is harmful to the environment. The ozone then makes up part of the photochemical smog that can interfere with photosynthesis and heats up the atmosphere. The more heat there is in the atmosphere, the more N2O breaks up into N2 and O, which then combines with O2 to make O3 in a vicious cycle. (Butera; NCA 2014)
Works Cited
"National Climate Assessment." National Climate Assessment. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Feb. 2016.
Butera, Brett, Mr. "Ap Environmental Class." Interview. Living in the Environment. Denver, CO, n.d. Personal conversation.
