Acid Atmospheric Deposition And Its Effects On Terrestrial Ecosystems In The Netherlands

The book begins with an overview of the research topics which were addressed in the three different phases of the Dutch Priority Program on Acidification (DPPA), executed between 1985 and 1994. This chapter is followed by a chapter which deals with the emissions of acidifying substances, the concentrations and the deposition to forest and nature conservation areas. Prognoses are given for the acid deposition in 2000 and 2010; the deposition in the countries surrounding the Netherlands is also mentioned. The differences in the results of the DPPA-II are analysed. The third chapter deals with the effects of exposure and load on forests. The chapter moves from small-scale to large-scale: first the effects in laboratory-scale studies are described, then the effects in the field, both at stand level and on a regional scale. In addition, the critical thresholds (critical level of concentration and critical load of deposition) are discussed. The fourth chapter covers terrestrial ecosystems (or parts thereof) as well as weakly buffered surface waters, springs and other streams. Critical levels and loads are also discussed. The most important results are given in chapter 5. In the appendices of the book, so-called umbrella theme reports on deposition, stand modelling and effects on forests are presented which describe in more detail the scientific work performed in the third phase of the DPPA. This book will be of interest to anyone involved in research related to acidification and eutrophication; i.e., not only those who perform the research in the causal chain from emissions to effects, but also policy-makers and students.

This book contains the results and conclusions of extensive research on the causes and effects of acidification of forests/forest soils and heathland in the Netherlands. In 1985 the Dutch Priority Programme on Acidification was started in order to give a more concrete form to the increasing interest of policy-makers in the effects of air pollution on ecosystems in particular. In the last three years, the research has focused on obtaining a more accurate estimate of the emission of ammonia on the deposition of SOx, NOy and NHx, and also on quantifying effects on forest and heathland ecosystems. This quantification of effects included experimental work model analyses, and derivation of critical loads and levels for forest and heathland ecosystems. Furthermore, scenario analyses were made with the Dutch Acidification Systems Model (DAS) in order to evaluate the effectiveness of policy measures. The research itself, which formed the basis for this book, has been described in the reports on individual projects. A summary of the scientific results and conclusions is given in thematic reports (added as annex). An independent Review Team has provided a critical assessment of the research carried out since 1988. The Review Report has been incorporated as annex.

In the concluding session of the symposium "Acid Deposition, a Challenge for Europe" held in Karlsruhe in September 1983, Dr. GINJAAR, the former Minister of Health and Environmental Protection of the Netherlands, emphasised the need for setting up a concerted research programme including the effects of air pollution on terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. The Council of Ministers of the European Community in 1984 adopted a revision of the 3rd Community Programme on Environment comprising contract research and concerted action in the field of the effects of air pollution in eco systems. These research areas were also introduced in the 4th R-D Community Programme on Environment, adopted by the Council of Ministers in 1986 and are subject again to contract research and concerted action. The Commission of the European Community is very concerned to increase the effectiveness of researcn projects carried out within the national programmes, and those undertaken at the Community level. The Commission tends to develop an integrated scientific approach, including not only the physico-chemical behaviour, the transport and the deposition of airborne pollutants but also the effects of these pollutants, in particular on living organisms and ecosystems. With regard to the specific issue of the effects, the Commission is trying to develop and strengthen a multi-disciplinary approach associating biologists, pathologists, eco physiologists, and specialists of soil sciences, within the concerted action, as well as within coordinated research projects.

Atmospheric abudance of trace gases since the pre-industrial time has forced the earth's climate to change, threatening food security. Exchange of biogenic trace gases between the atmosphere and the biosphere is directly or indirectly influenced by the plants. This volume contains the latest findings on the correlation between the climate change and biogenic gas emission, plant response to elevated levels of carbon dioxide, temperature, ozone and UV-B in combination and alone, regulatory mechanism of methane, nitrous oxide and ammonia emission and their mitigating options. Ecologists, atmospheric scientists, plant physiologists, research scholars, teachers and post-graduate students will benefit from this book.

The time when agricultural production activities were considered neutral to the environment has definitely passed. For last 25 years there has been growing scientific evidence on the potentially deteriorating effect of ammonia released in the process of agricultural production on the environment. In the last 15 years additional focus has been given to environmental and health impact of dust and VOC’s generated by farming activities. Only very recently is the contribution of agricultural production GHG’s to global warming recognised. In the book the various aspects of agricultural emissions are discussed. Its first part refers mainly to introductory, theoretical, and methodological issues. The second part gives the most recent data on national emissions, particularly these of Nitrogen species in selected individual European countries and the projections of their emission for all Europe. The third part which deals exclusively with ammonia brings comprehensive survey of its emission abatement potentials, the cost of appropriate actions and the difficulties in their practical implementation. It also considers the potential side effects of ammonia emission abatement measures.

The First International Nitrogen Conference provided an opportunity for researchers and decision-makers to exchange information on environmental pollution by nitrogen compounds on three scales: global, continental/regional and local. The main topics were air, ground water and surface water pollution; emission sources, atmospheric chemistry, deposition processes and effects; disturbance of nitrogen cycles, critical loads and levels; assessments, policy development and evaluation; target groups and abatement techniques; and new approaches leading to an integrated abatement strategy.The peer-reviewed papers from the Conference presented in this volume will provide readers with a comprehensive review of the transport, deposition and impact on ecosystems of nitrogen.

Spatial Variability in Environmental Science - Patterns, Processes, and Analyses includes eight studies that examine the issue of spatial variability in four areas of the environmental sciences – atmospheric science, geological science, biological science, and landscape science. The topics range from monitoring of wind, the urban heat island, and atmospheric pollution, to coastal geomorphology, landscape planning and forest ecology, the problem of introduced species to regional ecologies, and a technique to improve the identification of human constructions in semi-natural landscapes. A small volume can only offer a small glimpse at the activities of scientists and insights into environmental science, but the array of papers herein offers a unique view of the current scholarship.

This book provides a unique overview of research methods over the past 25 years assessing critical loads and temporal effects of the deposition of air pollutants. It includes critical load methods and applications addressing acidification, eutrophication and heavy metal pollution of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Applications include examples for each air pollution threat, both at local and regional scale, including Europe, Asia, Canada and the US. The book starts with background information on the effects of the deposition of sulphur, nitrogen and heavy metals and geochemical and biological indicators for risk assessments. The use of those indicators is then illustrated in the assessment of critical loads and their exceedances and in the temporal assessment of air pollution risks. It also includes the most recent developments of assessing critical loads and current and future risks of soil and water chemistry and biodiversity under climate change, with a special focus on nitrogen. The book thus provides a complete overview of the knowledge that is currently used for the scientific support of policies in the field of air pollution control to protect ecosystem services.