Denitrification and nitrous oxide production in aquatic systems

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The goal of my research program is to better understand major elemental cycles in aquatic systems. Nitrogen loading to aquatic systems is the most pervasive form of chemical pollution in these ecosystems. Some fraction of this nitrogen can be removed by denitrification (reduction of nitrate to N2), thus denitrification has the potential to improve water quality. However, a byproduct of denitrification, N2O, is a potent greenhouse gas. Aquatic systems are already a significant source of nitrous oxide and this source is projected to increase as global use of nitrogen fertilizers, and therefore nitrogen pollution of aquatic systems, increases.