Final answer:
Synthetic nitrogen fertilizer production and air travel both contribute significantly to greenhouse gas emissions. Nitrogen fertilizers release nitrous oxide with a high global warming potential, while air travel mainly emits carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxides. Both are significant environmental concerns due to their roles in climate change.
Step-by-step explanation:
Emissions from Synthetic Nitrogen Fertilizers vs. Air Travel
When comparing the emissions from the production of synthetic nitrogen fertilizers to those from air travel, it is essential to consider the various impacts on climate change and ecosystems. The production of synthetic nitrogen fertilizers is a highly energy-intensive process, primarily because of the need to break the stable nitrogen-nitrogen triple bond in atmospheric N₂ to convert it to a more bioavailable form. This process contributes significantly to global emissions of greenhouse gases, particularly nitrous oxide (N₂O), which has a global warming potential (GWP) 298 times more effective than CO₂.
On the other hand, air travel is a major fossil fuel consumer and contributes to CO₂ and nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions. In the United States in 2018, transportation, including air travel, accounted for 28.2 percent of emissions, with a significant portion coming from the combustion of fossil fuels for planes.
Both synthetic nitrogen fertilizer production and air travel have substantial environmental footprints. However, nitrous oxide emissions from fertilizer production are especially concerning due to their high GWP and the fact that N₂O also contributes to the depletion of the ozone layer, adding another layer to its environmental impact.