Excess Nitrogen in the Alpine

Liquid Nitrogen Flowers Photo Credit: kasi metcalfe

Nitrogen is one of the key ingredients for life on earth, the “N” in DNA and what gardeners use to fertilize their plots. But extra Nitrogen from pollution is causing robust changes in high-elevation ecosystems.

“80 percent of the atmosphere is Nitrogen. We are breathing Nitrogen right now,” said Professor Mark Williams of INSTAAR and the University of Colorado, Boulder.

Nitrogen comes in two forms:

1. Nitrate
2. Ammonium

Williams has been studying how nitrogen changes alpine environments. He says many alpine plants and species are adapted to live in a nitrogen limited or nitrogen poor environment. In Colorado Williams was surprised by the levels of Nitrogen he saw in a traditionally limited system.

” When I moved to Colorado what I discovered is that we had way more nitrogen in the system. In the actual streams at 11,000 and 12,000 feet. Normally you don’t see any nitrate in the streams because the plants use it all and they don’t let any of it go,” he said.

This excess nitrogen was coming from the sky as rain and snow and falling onto Niwot Ridge. “There is way more than should be there,” he said. This Nitrogen is coming from human activities.

The four main sources of Nitrogen are:
1. Feedlots
2. Fertilizer
3. Car
4. Power Plants

Niwot Ridge share air with Denver and Greeley, Colo. On windy upslope days locals in Boulder, Colo. can smell the feedlots. “Everything emitted in Denver and in that area ends up in the mountains. Bad air rises,” he said.

Check back for why it matters soon!