Contrast between contemporary and pre-disturbance transports of total nitrogen through inland aquatic systems resulting from anthropogenic acceleration of this nutrient cycle
While the peculiarities of individual pollutants, rivers, and governance define the specific character of water pollution, the general patterns observed for nitrogen are representative of anthropogenic changes to the transport of waterborne constituents. Elevated contemporary loadings to one part of the system (such as croplands) often reverberate to other parts of the system (to coastal zones, for example), exceeding the capacity of natural systems to assimilate additional constituents.
Year: 2007
From collection: Millennium Ecosystem Assessment
Cartographer: Philippe Rekacewicz, Emmanuelle Bournay, UNEP/GRID-Arendal