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Nitrous Oxide
Nitrous Oxide is one of several non-CO2 gases that contribute to global climate change. To learn more about these gases and what EPA is doing to reduce their impact, visit our Non-CO2 Gases page. |
Nitrous oxide (N2O) is a greenhouse gas with an atmospheric lifetime of approximately 120 years. Nitrous oxide is about 310 times more effective in trapping heat in the atmosphere than CO2 over a 100-year period. The primary sources of human-influenced emissions of nitrous oxide are agricultural soil management, animal manure management, sewage treatment, mobile and stationary fuel combustion, adipic acid production, and nitric acid production. Nitrous oxide is also emitted naturally from a wide variety of biological sources.
The following links provide more information related to nitrous oxide:
- Science:
Find out more about nitrous oxide's role as a greenhouse gas. - Sources and Emissions:
Find out more about the sources and emissions of nitrous oxide and current emission levels. - Projections and Mitigation costs :
Find projections of future nitrous oxide emissions and the costs associated with reducing those emissions.