www.nsac.ca/news/2007/ozone.asp -
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Published on: 1/1/2007
Last Visited: 11/1/2007
"The issue of ozone depletion was brought forward at an international level," says Dr. David Burton, Professor of Environmental Sciences at NSAC and Research Chair in Climate Change."The Montreal Protocol was a beacon of light and the world acted.Because of the policies put in place by the Protocol, the ozone layer is now mending itself."
Nitrous oxide has been identified as a major contributor to ozone layer depletion.Dr. Burton's primary area of study is in the emissions of nitrous oxide."These emissions come from synthetic fertilizers, the spreading of manure and denitrification," he says."Often the nitrogen content is increased in soil to produce better crops."In fact, approximately 87 per cent of nitrous oxide emissions come from agriculture.However, agriculture contributes to only 8 per cent of Canada's total greenhouse gas emissions.
Dr. Burton's research focuses on different ways to fine-tune and avoid excess nitrous oxide.He developed a test kit which allows for on-farm measurement of nitrous oxide emissions.These test kits support over a dozen research projects across the country and have enabled a wide audience including farmers and extension specialists to monitor greenhouse gas emissions.Along with the Soil and Crop Improvement Association of Nova Scotia (SCIANS), Dr. Burton's team is discovering ways to use nitrogen more efficiently such as adjusting the rate and timing of nitrogen fertilizer application and using animal manure more effectively.
Dr. Burton is also involved with Ducks Unlimited, Soil Conservation Canada, Canadian Climate Impacts and Adaptation Research Network Atlantic Canada Regional Node (CCIARN Atlantic), Soil Science Society of America and Green Crop Network.Since Dr. Burton has joined these associations, they have raised farmer awareness of the importance of careful nitrogen management and made fundamental discoveries on the amount and timing of nitrogen production systems.They have also highlighted many opportunities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Atlantic Canada.
With Ducks Unlimited, Dr. Burton's team is studying the role of riparian areas in storing carbon and reducing the impact of nitrous oxide on air and water.Riparian areas - treed areas adjacent to streams - are natural biofilters, protecting aquatic environments from polluted surface runoff.Dr. Burton's team is finding that wetland areas are enhancing the air and water quality and preventing agricultural impacts.Dr. Burton is also working with the Atlantic Swine Research Partnership on a shelterbelt program.Shelterbelts are rows of trees planted around hog rearing facilities and serve many benefits.They can reduce energy use for both heating and cooling costs, reduce the intensity of manure odours as well as give farm properties a more natural, forested appearance, while providing economic benefits to pork producers.Shelterbelts also have the ability to decrease wind and soil erosions, thus protecting water sources, sequester atmospheric carbon, and provide wildlife habitat for birds, insects and small mammals.
Because of the Montreal Protocol, research such as Dr. Burton's is continually being conducted to find ways of reducing emissions of ozone depleting substances such as nitrous oxide.
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Dr. Burton has noticed that graduate students are drawn to the issues of climate change, greenhouse gases and the ozone layer now more than ever."I used to have to talk them into studies dealing with climate change," he says.
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