Data-Driven Estimates of High-Resolution Soil HONO Emissions in China from 2000 to 2020

Soil nitrous acid (HONO) emissions influence air quality by affecting atmospheric oxidizing capacity and secondary pollutant formation. However, estimating soil HONO emissions remains uncertain due to complex factors and limited data. Here, we present the first high-resolution soil HONO emissions in China from 2000 to 2020 by establishing a parametrization scheme that links emissions to soil moisture, soil temperature, and fertilization. Particularly, a data-driven model is constructed to capture the dynamic response of soil HONO emissions to soil moisture. The estimated soil HONO emissions in China for 2020 amount to 0.477 Tg N, with approximately 76% from croplands, 19% from forests, and 5% from grasslands. The spatial distribution of soil HONO emissions is notably influenced by soil moisture, with Xinjiang displaying the highest emission intensity among major agricultural regions due to its lower soil moisture. Over the past two decades, soil moisture has played a significant role in variations of soil HONO emissions, exhibiting strong irregular interannual fluctuations. Soil temperature-driven emissions have shown an increasing trend, while fertilizer-driven emissions have displayed a decreasing trend since reaching a peak in 2015. Our research supports improved prediction and mitigation of soil HONO emissions under global climate change and agricultural sustainable development.