Led by NC State Professor Dr. Viney Aneja, this initiative is a three-year integrated atmospheric composition and air quality project to utilize NASA Earth Science observations (satellite, sub-orbital and ground) to support air quality modeling and analysis of ammonia and fine particulate matter change associated with intensive agriculture. The purpose of the project is to improve the aerosol forecast capability within the National Air Quality Forecast Capability (NAQFC) and to improve the emission inventory of ammonia, and tracking of reactive nitrogen. This will assist in improving the environment and strategies for control of aerosols and ammonia.
Kenan Institute support is leveraged by additional support from NASA and NOAA. In September 2017, Dr. Aneja and his colleagues published the manuscript “Is Nitrogen the Next Carbon?” in the journal Earth’s Future. The manuscript highlights a number of challenges the world faces to produce the agricultural products needed to feed and support the growing world population; and presents a synthesis with new and important insights into the human alteration of the nitrogen cycle. In addition, Dr. Aneja and his colleagues presented on their research at the March 2018 NC BREATHE Conference in Raleigh, NC on Reactive Nitrogen Emissions from Biomass Burning in the US.