『Abstract
　Human production of food and energy is the dominant continental process that breaks the triple bond in molecular nitrogen (N2) and creates reactive nitrogen (Nr) species. Circulation of anthropogenic Nr in Earth's atmosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere has a wide variety of consequences, which are magnified with time as Nr moves along its biogeochemical pathway. The same atom of Nr can cause multiple effects in the atmosphere, in terrestrial ecosystem, in freshwater and marine systems, and on human health. We call this sequence of effects the nitrogen cascade. As the cascade progresses, the origin of Nr becomes unimportant. Reactive nitrogen does not cascade at the same rate through all environment systems; some systems have the ability to accumulate Nr, which leads to lag times in the continuation of the cascade. These lags slow the cascade and result in Nr accumulation in certain reservoirs, which in turn can enhance the effects of Nr on that environment. The only way to eliminate Nr accumulation and stop the cascade is to convert Nr back to nonreactive N2.

Keywords: nitrogen cascade; fertilizer; forest dieback; eutrophication; ozone; denitrification』

The chemical elements nitrogen (N), carbon (C),〜
Atmosphere
Terrestrial ecosystems
　Agroecosystems
　Forests
　Grasslands
Aquatic ecosystems
　Groundwater
　Wetlands, streams, lakes, and rivers
　Coastal systems
　Denitrification potential in the wetland-stream-river-estuary-shelf continuum
The nitrogen cascade: Linkages with other elements
The nitrogen cascade: Possibilities for intervention
　Decreasing the rate of reactive nitrogen creation
　Increasing the conversion of reactive nitrogen to N2
Summary
Acknowledgments
References cited