Mallorca waters lead Mediterranean nitrous oxide emissions

Waters off Mallorca recorded the highest release of nitrous oxide in a Mediterranean survey, with the peak coming during strong winter winds in January 2024. Nitrous oxide, or N2O, is a greenhouse gas. The study was carried out by the University of the Balearic Islands, the Spanish National Research Council and the Mediterranean Institute for Advanced Studies.

Researchers took monthly samples between 2023 and 2024 at eight stations across the Mediterranean, including Palma, Mallorca, Cap de Ses Salines on Mallorca and Cabrera. Every area surveyed released both nitrous oxide and methane, another greenhouse gas, into the atmosphere.

Winter pattern in the Balearic Sea

Nitrous oxide followed the same broad pattern across the areas studied: concentrations were higher in winter and closely linked to water temperature. The strongest flow measured anywhere in the project was in Balearic waters in January 2024.

Earlier analysis found no significant difference between the three Balearic stations, despite the possible effect of human activity in the Bay of Palma.

One set of results across eight stations

Research centres in Spain, Morocco, Lebanon and Turkey joined the project. Before sampling began, the teams agreed common rules for collecting, storing and analysing the samples.

All nitrous oxide and methane measurements were analysed at the Marine Research Institute in Vigo, allowing direct comparisons between the eight stations. The openly available data will support future research on the Mediterranean and climate models assessing climate change in the region.

Methane levels varied more sharply than nitrous oxide. The highest methane emissions were found in the eastern Mediterranean, especially the Levantine Sea, where occasional high readings may come from local geological sources on the seabed.

Topics: Sea & coast · Palma · Ses Salines

Source: Europa Press / Mallorca.com