Global riverine N and P transport to ocean increased during the 20th century despite increased retention along the aquatic continuum

Abstract. Various human activities – including agriculture, water consumption, river damming, and aquaculture – have intensified over the last century. This has had a major impact on nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) cycling in global continental waters. In this study, we use a coupled nutrient-input–hydrology–in-stream nutrient retention model to quantitatively track the changes in the global freshwater N and P cycles over the 20th century. Our results suggest that, during this period, the global nutrient delivery to streams increased from 34 to 64 Tg N yr−1 and from 5 to 9 Tg P yr−1. Furthermore, in-stream retention and removal grew from 14 to 27 Tg N yr−1 and 3 to 5 Tg P yr−1. One of the major causes of…

• GE
  Global Environment Facility
• UU
  Universiteit Utrecht
• NE
  Netherlands Earth System Science Centre
• H2
  Horizon 2020 Framework Programme

  Awards: 661163, EU H2020