Abstract
<jats:p>Abstract. Nitrous oxide (N2O) is a potent greenhouse gas and ozone-depleting substance. Approximately 42 % of anthropogenic N2O emissions are thought to be emitted from urban areas. We tested three N2O analyzers for their suitability to measure N2O in urban areas from tower and mobile platforms. All three analyzers (Aerodyne SuperDUAL, Aeris MIRA Ultra, and LI-COR LI-7820) have sufficient precision for urban measurements but require different amounts of calibration and attention for best results. Using these analyzers, we observed tower-level enhancements at least 3 times larger than predicted from the best available inventory for the NYC region. Co-measurement of carbon monoxide (available on all but the LI-7820) were used to identify combustion-related enhancements of N2O. Mobile driving confirmed that traffic related emissions for NYC are captured by the inventory and that wastewater treatment is the most likely source for the missing N2O emissions.</jats:p>