J.W. Erisman

Intensive monitoring of forest ecosystems in Europe: 1. Objectives, set-up and evaluation strategy

Abstract In order to contribute to a better understanding of the impact of air pollution and other environmental factors on forest ecosystems, a Pan-European Programme for Intensive and Continuous Monitoring of Forest Ecosystems has been implemented in 1994. Results of the Programme must contribute to a European wide overview of impacts of air pollution and the further development of its control strategies, being described in air pollution protocols. Objectives of the Intensive Monitoring Programme related to air pollution are the assessment of: (i) responses of forest ecosystems to changes in air pollution; (ii) differences between present loads and critical loads (long-term sustainable inputs) of atmospheric deposition; and (iii) impacts of future scenarios of atmospheric deposition on the ecosystem condition. Furthermore, the Intensive Monitoring Programme contributes to the assessment of ‘criteria and indicators for sustainable forest management’, such as the maintenance of forests as a net carbon sink to reduce the build up of atmospheric greenhouse gasses and the maintenance of species diversity of ground vegetation. The Intensive Monitoring Programme, which is carried out on approximately 860 selected plots, comprises monitoring of crown condition, forest growth and the chemical status of soil and foliage at all plots and monitoring of deposition, meteorology, soil solution and ground vegetation in a subset of the plots. In order to meet the major objectives of the Intensive Monitoring Programme, studies have been or are presently carried out with respect to the assessment of: (i) correlations between site and stress factors and the “forest ecosystem condition”; (ii) trends in stress factors and/or ecosystem conditions; (iii) critical loads, by evaluating the fate of atmospheric pollutants in the ecosystem with input–output budgets; and (iv) large-scale and long-term impacts of climate and deposition on forests and vice versa. Examples of those studies are given and the potential of the Programme to fulfil the objectives is evaluated.

Effects of environmental stress on forest crown condition in Europe. Part IV: statistical analysis of relationships.

Site-specific estimates for various environmentalstress factors were related with measured crowncondition data at a systematic 16 ×: 16 km2 gridover Europe, according to previously statedhypotheses, using a multiple regression approach,including interactions, and lagged effects of stressfactors. Methodological differences among countriesaccounted for >30% of the variation in defoliation.Nevertheless, crown condition was found to varynaturally with tree age, altitude, drought stress and,most likely, also pathogenic fungi and insects.Significant impacts of air pollution (specificallyozone but also NOx, SOx and acid deposition)were found at regional levels in parts of centralEurope, particularly for deciduous species. Impactsseemed less significant for conifers, especially forspruce, but this might be affected by confoundingeffects or strong correlations between (a harsh)climate and (low) atmospheric deposition in the areawhere spruce predominates. National studies indicatethat ozone and acid deposition can have a significanteffect on the defoliation of spruce as well. Weconclude that while forest condition varies naturally,continued emissions will contribute further to forestdecline in the long term.

Effects of environmental stress on forest crown condition in Europe. Part I: hypotheses and approach to the study

This paper is the first in a series of four,describing the hypothesis and approach of acorrelative study between observed data on crowncondition in Europe, monitored since 1986 at asystematic 16 × 16 km grid, and site-specificestimations of various natural and anthropogenicstress factors. The study was based on the hypothesisthat forests respond to various natural andanthropogenic stress factors, whose contributiondepend on the geographic region considered. In view ofthis hypothesis, major stand and site characteristics,chemical soil composition, meteorological stressfactors (temperature and drought stress indices) andair pollution stress (concentrations and/ordepositions of SOx, NOy, NHx andO3) were included as predictor variables. Theresponse variables considered were actual defoliationand changes/trends in defoliation for five major treespecies. The spatial distribution of the averagedefoliation during the period 1986–1995 shows highdefoliation in Central Europe and in parts ofScandinavia and of Southern Europe. There are,however, sharp changes at country borders, which aredue to methodological differences between countries.The spatial distribution of the calculated trends showa distinct cluster of large deterioration in parts ofCentral and Eastern Europe and in Spain and a ratherscattered pattern of positive and negative trends for most of Europe, indicating that other factors than airpollution only have a strong impact on defoliation.The limitations of the study are discussed in view ofthe quality of the considered response and predictor variables.

Nitrogen as a threat to European terrestrial biodiversity

Approaches Th is chapter focuses on N • r impacts on European plant species diversity; in particular, the number and abundance of diff erent species in a given area, and the presence of characteristic species of sensitive ecosystems. We summarise both the scientifi c and the policy aspects of N • r impacts on diversity and identify, using a range of evidence, the most vulnerable ecosystems and regions in Europe.

Advances in micrometeorological methods for the measurement and interpretation of gas and particle nitrogen fluxes

The application of micrometeorology for flux measurements of nitrogen species between terrestrial ecosystems and the atmosphere and some of their main limitations are reviewed. New methods which are gaining rapid acceptance such as relaxed eddy accumulation are also described. A new development to provide long term average fluxes by time averaged gradients is shown to yield long-term average NH3 fluxes over moorland within 10% of values obtained using continuous wet denuder methods and at less than 10% of the cost. The use of mass balance methods to quantify fluxes at the plot, landscape and regional scale are described, and show that in suitable conditions and for some countries, methods to check national inventories of radiatively active gases are now available.

Effects of environmental stress on forest crown condition in Europe. Part III : Estimation of critical deposition and concentration levels and their exceedances

The stress by air pollution at the systematicPan-European 16 × 16 km2 forest (crown) condition monitoring network, is discussed by comparingsite-specific estimates of critical and presentconcentration and deposition levels for S and Ncompounds and ozone. Results indicate that theexceedance of critical levels, related to directabove-ground impacts, decrease going from O3 >SO2 > N compounds. Critical N loads related toeffects on the forest understorey are exceeded atapproximately 25% of the plots, located mainly inWestern and Central Europe. Critical N loads relatedto effects on trees are hardly ever exceeded, but mostlikely, this is an under estimate. Critical aciddeposition levels are exceeded at approximately 30%of the plots with a low base saturation, where acidinputs may release toxic Al. This is especially thecase in Central and Eastern Europe, where presentloads are high and in boreal forest in SouthernScandinavia where critical loads are low. Although theuncertainties in the calculated exceedances is large,the spatial pattern, which is most important for acorrelative study, seems reliable, implying that thecritical load concept is suitable for regional risk assessments.

Effects of environmental stress on forest crown condition in Europe. Part II: estimation of stress induced by meteorology and air pollutants.

In order to assess the relationship betweenenvironmental stress and crown condition of foresttrees monitored since 1986 in Europe, estimates ofstress factors, including temperature stress, droughtstress and air pollution stress, were derived with thebest data, methods and models currently available.This paper presents information on the methods used toderive such stress factors, and on the overall ranges,the temporal trends, the spatial distribution and thereliability of the calculated stress factors. Thetemperature stress indices did not show much temporalvariation between 1985 to 1995. As expected spatialpatterns were north-south orientated, going fromcolder northern regions to warmer southern regions.The calculated relative transpiration showed a morecomplex pattern, coinciding to a large extend withpatterns of rainfall and temperature. Potential aciddeposition decreased between 1986 and 1992, butremained fairly constant after 1992. The strongdecrease was mainly the result of the decrease inSOx deposition, and to a small decrease inNOy deposition. Highest levels of the S and Ndeposition were calculated in Central and WesternEurope. Base cation deposition was largest in coastalareas and in southern Europe. This is mainly due tosoil dust, Sahara dust and sea salt. Base cationdeposition can compensate almost entirely for thepotential inputs in the south of Europe, whereas incentral Europe it equalled about 25% of thepotential acid input. A comparison between sitespecific modelled deposition and deposition derivedfrom throughfall data showed that the total aciddeposition is usually overestimated by the model,whereas the total nitrogen deposition isunderestimated, especially at plots with high nitrogenloads. There is, however, a significant correlationbetween measured and modelled data for all S and Ndeposition, thus allowing their use in a statistical analyses.

Assessment of the Exposure and Loads of Acidifying and Eutrophying Pollutants and Ozone, as well as their Harmful Influence on the Vitality of the Trees and the Speulder Forest Ecosystem as a Whole

Within the framework of the Dutch Priority Program on Acidification, 10 yr of research was conducted in a Douglas fir stand at Speulder forest. Research was conducted to establish the loads and levels of acidifying and eutrophying pollutants and ozone, to determine forest vitality characteristics and follow growth parameters and nutrient status in time and to determine the effects of reduction of loads and levels by manipulation experiments. Results indicate that during the last 20 yr critical levels for air pollutants have hardly been exceeded except for ozone, which slightly affected assimilation. Elevated nitrogen deposition has caused several adverse effects including (i) inhibited mycorrhizal development, leading to a decreased base cation and phosphorus uptake; (ii) elevated foliage/root (fine and coarse) ratios, making the forest more sensitive to drought and windthrow; (iii) elevated nitrogen and arginine concentrations in the foliage, associated with relative base cation and phosphorus deficiency, and (iv) elevated nitrate leaching polluting the groundwater. High inputs of acidity have caused elevated ratios of Al to base cations, affecting fine root (uptake) and depletion of the readily available Al pool, thus affecting the long-term sustainability. Despite these effects, forest vitality, in terms of defoliation/discoloration, is reasonable and forest growth even increased in response to nitrogen. The exceedances of critical loads for nitrogen and acidity, however, implies a (large) risk for the long-term sustainability of the Speulder forest.

NitroGenius: A Nitrogen Decision Support System

Abstract A nitrogen decision support system in the form of a game (NitroGenius) was developed for the Second International Nitrogen Conference. The aims were to: i) improve understanding among scientists and policy makers about the complexity of nitrogen pollution problems in an area of intensive agricultural, industrial, and transportation activity (The Netherlands); and ii) search for optimal policy solutions to prevent pollution effects at lowest economic and social costs. NitroGenius includes a model of nitrogen flows at relevant spatial and temporal scales including emissions of ammonia and nitrogen oxides and contamination of surface- and groundwaters. NitroGenius also includes an economic model describing relationships for important sectors and impacts of different nitrogen control measures on Gross Domestic Product (GDP), unemployment, energy use, and environmental costs. About 50 teams played NitroGenius during the Second International Nitrogen Conference. The results show that careful planning and selection of abatement options can solve Dutch nitrogen problems at reasonable cost.

Atmospheric composition change

Publisher Summary The coupling between climate change and atmospheric composition results from the basic structure of the Earth atmosphere climate system, and the fundamental processes within it. The composition of the atmosphere is determined by natural and human-related emissions, and the energy that flows into, out of, and within the atmosphere. Atmospheric composition influences climate by regulating the radiation budget. Potentially significant contributions to the climate impact are provided by compounds such as CO2, CH4, O3, particles, and cirrus clouds. For the chemically active gases, processes in the atmosphere are important, with large spatial and temporal variations. The climate–chemistry interactions are therefore characterized by significant regional differences with regions such as South East Asia being a future key region due to significant increases in energy use and pollution emission. Likewise, ship and air traffic represent important sectors because of significant increases in emissions in recent years. The relative contributions to the emissions from various sectors are expected to change significantly over the next few decades due to differences in mitigation options and costs.Chemically active climate compounds are either primary compounds like methane (CH4), removed by oxidation in the atmosphere, or secondary compounds like ozone (O-3), sulfate and organic aerosols, both formed and removed in the atmosphere. Man-induced climate-chemistry interaction is a two-way process: Emissions of pollutants change the atmospheric composition contributing to climate change through the aforementioned climate components, and climate change, through changes in temperature, dynamics, the hydrological cycle, atmospheric stability, and biosphere-atmosphere interactions, affects the atmospheric composition and oxidation processes in the troposphere. Here we present progress in our understanding of processes of importance for climate-chemistry interactions, and their contributions to changes in atmospheric composition and climate forcing. A key factor is the oxidation potential involving compounds like O-3 and the hydroxyl radical (OH). Reported studies represent both current and future changes. Reported results include new estimates of radiative forcing based on extensive model studies of chemically active climate compounds like O-3, and of particles inducing both direct and indirect effects. Through EU projects like ACCENT, QUANTIFY, and the AeroCom project, extensive studies on regional and sector-wise differences in the impact on atmospheric distribution are performed. Studies have shown that land-based emissions have a different effect on climate than ship and aircraft emissions, and different measures are needed to reduce the climate impact. Several areas where climate change can affect the tropospheric oxidation process and the chemical composition are identified. This can take place through enhanced stratospheric-tropospheric exchange of ozone, more frequent periods with stable conditions favoring pollution build up over industrial areas, enhanced temperature induced biogenic emissions, methane releases from permafrost thawing, and enhanced concentration through reduced biospheric uptake. During the last 5-10 years, new observational data have been made available and used for model validation and the study of atmospheric processes. Although there are significant uncertainties in the modeling of composition changes, access to new observational data has improved modeling capability. Emission scenarios for the coming decades have a large uncertainty range, in particular with respect to regional trends, leading to a significant uncertainty range in estimated regional composition changes and climate impact.