Release of subducted sedimentary nitrogen throughout Earth’s mantle

The dynamic process of subduction represents the principal means to introduce chemical heterogeneities into Earth's interior. In the case of nitrogen (N) -atmosphere's most abundant gas -biological-activity converts N 2 into ammonium ions (NH 4 + ), which are chemicallybound within seafloor sediments and altered oceanic crust that comprise the subducting slab. Although some subducted N re-emerges via arc-related volcanism