Atmospheric nitrous oxide observations above the oceanic surface during the first Chinese Arctic Research Expedition

339 gas samples above oceanic surface were collected on the cruise of "Xuelong" expeditionary ship and nitrous oxide concentrations were analyzed in the laboratory. Results showed that Atmospheric average N20 concentration was 309 ± 3.8nL/L above the surface of northern Pacific and Arctic ocean. N2O concentrations were significantly different on the northbound and southbound track in the range of the same latitude, 308.0 ± 3.5 nL/L from Shanghai harbor to the Arctic and 311.9 ± 2.5 nL/L from the Arctic to Shanghai harbor. N2O concentration had a greater changing magnitude on the mid- and high-latitude oceanic surface of northern Pacific Ocean than in the other latitudinal ranges. The correlation between the concentrations of the compositions in the aerosol samples and atmospheric N2O showed that continental sources had a great contribution on atmospheric N2 O concentration above the oceanic surface. Atmospheric N2O concentration significantly increased when the expeditionary ship approached Shanghai harbor. The average N2O concentrations were 315.1 ±2.5 nL/L, 307.2 ±1.4 nL/L and 306.2 ±0.7 nL/L, respectively, at Shanghai harbor, at ice stations and at floating ices. The distribution of N2O concentrations was related with air pressure and temperature above the mid- and high-latitude Pacific Ocean.