Why is "Human impact on the nitrogen cycle" trending?

Wikipedia Overview

Human impact on the nitrogen cycle is diverse. Agricultural and industrial nitrogen (N) inputs to the environment currently exceed inputs from natural N fixation. This is largely attributed to the widespread use of synthetic fertilizers produced via the Haber-Bosch process, and the expansion of fossil fuel combustion following the Industrial Revolution. As a consequence of anthropogenic inputs, the global nitrogen cycle has been significantly altered over the past century, leading to increased nitrogen deposition and disruption of natural biogeochemical processes. Global atmospheric nitrous oxide (N2O) mole fractions have increased from a pre-industrial value of ~270 nmol/mol to ~319 nmol/mol in 2005, a concerning trend given that N2O is both a greenhouse gas and an ozone-depleting substance (ODS). Human activities account for over one-third of N2O emissions (35% of total global N2O emissions), with about 20% originating from agricultural sources such as fertilizer use, manure management, and aquaculture. An additional 12% of emissions arise from other anthropogenic activities including fossil fuel combustion, industrial processes, waste and wastewater treatment, and biomass burning. This article is intended to give a brief review of the history of anthropogenic N inputs, reported impacts of nitrogen inputs on selected terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, and global players in N2O emissions.