How do humans affect the nitrogen cycle?

Answer 1

Humans impact the nitrogen cycle primarily through fertilizer use.

The following graphic shows significant pathways and amounts of nitrogen movement through the cycle.

Some sources say that fossil fuel burning affects the cycle. While it may change some of the forms (to oxides) it is not really affecting the nitrogen balance, because all of the nitrogen passing through a burner was already in the atmosphere.

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Answer 2

Nicholas Ahn

Humans affect the nitrogen cycle primarily through agricultural activities, industrial processes, and fossil fuel combustion. These activities increase the amount of reactive nitrogen in the environment, leading to issues such as eutrophication, air pollution, and biodiversity loss. Agricultural practices like fertilizer use and livestock farming contribute significantly to nitrogen runoff and emissions. Industrial activities release nitrogen oxides into the atmosphere, contributing to air pollution and acid rain. Additionally, deforestation and urbanization can disrupt natural nitrogen cycling processes. Overall, human activities have intensified the nitrogen cycle, leading to various environmental challenges.

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Answer from HIX Tutor

When evaluating a one-sided limit, you need to be careful when a quantity is approaching zero since its sign is different depending on which way it is approaching zero from. Let us look at some examples.