Where does Nitrous Oxide come from?

Nitrous oxide (N₂O) is a colourless, non-flammable gas with a sweetish odour, commonly known as "laughing gas", and sometimes used as an anaesthetic. Nitrous oxide is naturally produced by oceans and rainforests.

The naturally occuring terrestrial N₂O emissions are due to microbial action which takes place in soils, especially in tropical regions.

This process is controlled by the status of oxygen, water and nutrients in the soils. Anthropogenic sources include land clearing, fossil fuel combustion, biomass burning and nitrogen fertilizers.

Nitrous Oxide is chemically active unlike CO₂. It is broken down in the stratosphere by photosynthesis.