The European nitrogen assessment : sources effects and policy perspectives Presenting the first continental scale assessment of reactive nitrogen in the environment this book sets the related environmental problems in context by providing a multidisciplinary introduction to the nitrogen cycle processes. Issues of upscaling from farm plot and city to national and continental scales are addressed in detail with emphasis on opportunities for better management at local to global levels. The five key societal threats posed by reactive nitrogen are assessed providing a framework for joined up management of the nitrogen cycle in Europe including the first cost benefit analysis for different reactive nitrogen forms and future scenarios. Incorporating comprehensive maps a handy technical synopsis and a summary for policy makers this landmark volume is an essential reference for academic researchers across a wide range of disciplines as well as stakeholders and policy makers. It is also a valuable tool in communicating the key environmental issues and future challenges to the wider public Machine generated contents note: List of contributors; Preface; Summary for policymakers; Technical summary; 1. Assessing our nitrogen inheritance; Part I. Nitrogen in Europe: The Present Position: 2. The European nitrogen problem in a global perspective; 3. Benefits of nitrogen for food fibre and industrial production; 4. Nitrogen in current European policies; 5. The challenge to integrate nitrogen science and policies; Part II. Nitrogen Processing in the Biosphere: 6. Nitrogen processes in terrestrial ecosystems; 7. Nitrogen processes in aquatic ecosystems; 8. Nitrogen processes in coastal and marine ecosystems; 9. Nitrogen processes in the atmosphere; Part III. Nitrogen Flows and Fate at Multiple Scales: 10. Nitrogen flows in farming systems across Europe; 11. Nitrogen flows and fate in rural landscapes; 12. Nitrogen flows and fate in urban landscapes; 13. Nitrogen flows from European watersheds to coastal marine waters; 14. Atmospheric transport and deposition of nitrogen in Europe; 15. Geographic variation in terrestrial nitrogen budgets across Europe; 16. Integrating nitrogen fluxes at the European scale; Part IV. Key Societal Threats of Nitrogen: 17. Nitrogen as a threat to European water quality; 18. Nitrogen as a threat to European air quality; 19. Nitrogen as a threat to the European greenhouse balance; 20. Nitrogen as a threat to European terrestrial biodiversity; 21. Nitrogen as a threat to European soil quality; Part V. European Nitrogen Policies and Future Challenges: 22. Costs and benefits of nitrogen in the environment; 23. Developing integrated approaches to nitrogen management; 24. Future scenarios of nitrogen in Europe; 25. Coordinating European nitrogen policies between directives and international conventions; 26. Societal choice and communicating the European nitrogen challenge; Glossary; Index