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6159823 
Book/Book Chapter 
15 - Factors Influencing the Stable Isotopic Content of Atmospheric N2O 
Rahn, T 
2005 
Academic Press 
San Diego 
Stable Isotopes and Biosphere Atmosphere Interactions 
268-287 
Publisher Summary Solar radiation reaching the Earth's surface as visible and ultraviolet radiation is re-emitted as long wave (infra-red/IR) radiation that can be absorbed by gases in the atmosphere, thus trapping this energy and warming the surface. The most important of these “greenhouse” gases are water (H2O) and carbon dioxide (CO2) but a number of other trace gases have been shown to be very effective at trapping radiation in important windows of the IR spectrum. Chief among these are the naturally occurring gases, methane (CH4), ozone (O3), and nitrous oxide (N2O), and the manmade chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). Nitrous oxide and the CFCs also have the unique property of their stratospheric reaction products participating in the catalytic destruction of ozone. In the case of N2O, the increase in globally averaged radiative forcing is estimated at 0.15 W/m2 and accounts for nearly 5% of the total forcing due to all of the recognized greenhouse gases. Because of these direct and indirect influences on Earth's chemistry and radiation budget, it is imperative to understand how human-induced perturbations may affect the global budgets of N2O. 
Pataki, D. E.