Per Erik Karlsson

An ozone flux-response relationship for wheat

Six open-top chamber experiments with field-grown wheat Triticum aestivum L. (five with spring wheat and one with winter wheat) were combined to test which of the two ozone exposure indices, AOT40 and CFO(3), that provided the most consistent relationship between relative yield loss and ozone exposure. AOT40 is the accumulated exposure over a threshold ozone concentration of 40 nl l(-1), while CFO(3) is the cumulative flux of ozone (uptake) to the flag leaves. The ozone uptake of the flag leaves was estimated using a stomatal conductance model, sensitive to phenology, light, vapour pressure deficit (VPD) and temperature in combination with measurements of the boundary layer conductance in the open-top chambers. Both indices were calculated for the grain-filling period, defined as the time from anthesis until 2 weeks before harvest. The duration of the grain-filling period was shown to be closely related to the rate of accumulation of thermal time above a base temperature of 0 degrees C. The CFO(3) index provided a much more consistent pattern in terms of ozone effects compared to the AOT40 index. This was especially the case for spring wheat, for which a linear regression between relative yield and CFO(3) using all five data sets is presented. According to the stomatal conductance model, VPD limited daytime stomatal conductance in warm and dry years, while temperature was the most important limiting factor during daytime in cool and humid years. The effect of light was mainly to delimit the time period of the day during which substantial uptake of ozone took place. It is concluded that, compared to the AOT40 index, the more mechanistically relevant flux-based index CFO(3) will estimate larger yield loss in the relatively humid parts of western and northern Europe, while smaller yield loss will be estimated for the dry summer climates in south and central Europe. The use of an ozone flux threshold, similar to the cut-off concentration 40 nl l(-1) in AOT40, did not improve the performance of the CFO(3) index.

Reduced European emissions of S and N - Effects on air concentrations, deposition and soil water chemistry in Swedish forests

Changes in sulphur and nitrogen pollution in Swedish forests have been assessed in relation to European emission reductions, based on measurements in the Swedish Throughfall Monitoring Network. Measurements were analysed over 20 years with a focus on the 12-year period 1996 to 2008. Air concentrations of SO(2) and NO(2), have decreased. The SO(4)-deposition has decreased in parallel with the European emission reductions. Soil water SO(4)-concentrations have decreased at most sites but the pH, ANC and inorganic Al-concentrations indicated acidification recovery only at some of the sites. No changes in the bulk deposition of inorganic nitrogen could be demonstrated. Elevated NO(3)-concentrations in the soil water occurred at irregular occasions at some southern sites. Despite considerable air pollution emission reductions in Europe, acidification recovery in Swedish forests soils is slow. Nitrogen deposition to Swedish forests continues at elevated levels that may lead to leaching of nitrate to surface waters.

Acidification trends in south Swedish forest soils 1986-2008 : Slow recovery and high sensitivity to sea-salt episodes.

Soil water chemistry in forest soils over 20 years was studied at nine sites in southern Sweden. The aim was to investigate the recovery from acidification and the influence of strong sea salt episodes that occur in the region. All sites but one showed signs of recovery from acidification along with the reduced sulphur deposition, but the recovery progress was slow and the soil water was in most cases still highly acidic at the end of the period. In several cases the recovery was delayed by episodes of sea salt deposition, leading to transient acidification. The less marked decrease of sulphur concentrations in soil water than of sulphur deposition, highlighted the importance of sulphur adsorption/desorption in the acidification and recovery process. Nitrogen retention capacity was exceeded on one site, leading to nitrate leaching and extremely low pH. Storm fellings on two sites in the end of the period led to effects similar to those of regeneration fellings. It was concluded that the soils in the region are in an early stage of recovery. The future progress of recovery strongly depends on future nitrogen retention of forest soils and the frequency of sea salt episodes.

Measuring and modelling leaf diffusive conductance in juvenile silver birch, Betula pendula

Leaf diffusive conductance for water (gl) and twig xylem pressure (ψxt) was measured in juvenile silver birch, Betula pendula, under field conditions in southern Sweden. Data from one site were used to parameterise two different multiplicative models for gl (dependent data), and measurements from another site were used to validate these models (independent data). In addition, experiments were performed in controlled environments to validate the gl response functions used in the models. The driving variables in the D-model were photosynthetic photon flux density, air temperature and water vapour pressure deficit of the air (Da), while the DH-model also included the accumulated hours after sunrise each day with Da above a certain threshold (H). Both models satisfactorily predicted the variation in gl in dependent as well as in independent data, and the gl response functions used were supported by the experiments in controlled environments. The DH-model was more successful in predicting gl than the D-model by accounting for the observation that gl was lower at higher H under similar weather conditions. There was a considerable variation in maximum gl during the season, as well as between the two sites. On relatively warm and dry days ψxt rapidly declined during the morning and then stabilized around a constant value until the late afternoon, with the stomatal regulation effectively preventing ψxt from decreasing below this value. We suggest that these models could be used to simulate the gl in juvenile birch if maximum gl is locally estimated and if the response functions are not extrapolated beyond the climate range for this study.

Clover as a tool for bioindication of phytotoxic ozone--5 years of experience from southern Sweden--consequences for the short-term critical levels.

Critical levels (CLs) for ozone effects on plants in Europe have been defined within the UN-ECE Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution, CLRTAP. The purpose of the short-term CLs is to ensure protection of all crops to acute ozone injury. The currently used CLs are based on the ozone exposure of the plants during daylight hours expressed as AOT40 (Accumulated exposure Over the Threshold 40 nmol mol(-1) ozone). The aims of this study were: to test the performance of the current short-term CLs, to test alternative ozone exposure indices and to test if changes in the ozone cut-off concentration, the inclusion of a lag-period (LP) between exposure and identification of visible ozone injury or the duration of the ozone integration period improved the performance of the exposure index. The analysis was based on 38 different datasets from experiments with subterranean clover, Trifolium subterraneum in southern Sweden. AOT indices generally performed better than averaged ozone concentrations or SUM (Sum of ozone concentrations when a threshold is exceeded) indices. Regression analysis showed that the current short-term CL, AOT40 with a VPD (water vapour pressure deficit) threshold of 1.5 kPa, explained 56% of the variation in visible injury. A longer exposure period and the introduction of a LP, admitting visible ozone injury time to develop after exposure, improved the performance of the exposure index. AOT30 accumulated over 10 days before harvest, excluding a LP of 3 days before injury observation, performed best and explained 88% of the variation in visible injury. AOT40 indices left a rather large amount of visible injury unexplained indicating that a lower cut-off concentration for ozone is preferable. The results of the investigation indicated that a visible injury threshold of 10% improved the distinction between harmful and less harmful exposure.

Gradients of ozone at a forest site and over a field cropconsequences for the AOT40 concept of critical level

Ozone concentrations were measured at a wind-exposed edge of a 60 year-old 15–20 m tall Norway spruce forest in south-west Sweden and simultaneously over a barley field 5 km away for 27 days, At the forest site, measurements were performed at 3 and 13 m height 15 m in front of the forest edge, at 3 m height 15 m into the forest, and at 3 and 13 m height 45 m into the forest. Measurements at 3 m were made with three replicate tubes separated by 10 m. Differences between replicates were small. At 13 m height, the concentration (24-hr-average) 45 m into the forest was 95% of that in front of the forest edge. The average concentration at 3 m height did not vary strongly with the distance into the forest, but was 86% of that at 13 m in front of the forest edge. For AOT40 (Accumulated Exposure Over Threshold 40 ppb ozone), the differences between different positions were larger. At the 13 m level the AOT40 (day and night) was 88% of that in front of the forest 45 m into the forest. The AOT40 at 3 m was 71% of that at 13 m outside the forest. At the crop site, the ozone concentration at 1.1 m (0.1 m above the canopy), was 78% of that at 9 m (06.00–22.00). The AOT40 at 1.1 m above the ground, however, was only 50% of that at 9 m, indicating that serious errors can arise if ozone monitoring data are used uncorrnected in dose-response relationships based on measurements performed at plant height. The ozone concentration for the whole period differed very little between 9 m height at the crop site and 13 m height at the forest site outside the forest during daytime conditions (06.00–22.00). Night-time (22.00–06.00) values were only 21% at the crop site of those at the forest site due to the stronger night inversion development in the agricultural environment compared to the wind exposed forest edge. The results suggest that variations in topography and vegetation are important to consider when combining ozone monitoring data with dose-response functions.

Past, present and future concentrations of ground-level ozone and potential impacts on ecosystems and human health in northern Europe

This review summarizes new information on the current status of ground-level ozone in Europe north of the Alps. There has been a re-distribution in the hourly ozone concentrations in northern Europe during 1990-2015. The highest concentrations during summer daytime hours have decreased while the summer night-time and winter day- and night-time concentrations have increased. The yearly maximum 8-h mean concentrations ([O3]8h,max), a metric used to assess ozone impacts on human health, have decreased significantly during 1990-2015 at four out of eight studied sites in Fennoscandia and northern UK. Also the annual number of days when the yearly [O3]8h,max exceeded the EU Environmental Quality Standard (EQS) target value of 60ppb has decreased. In contrast, the number of days per year when the yearly [O3]8h,max exceeded 35ppb has increased significantly at two sites, while it decreased at one far northern site. [O3]8h,max is predicted not to exceed 60ppb in northern UK and Fennoscandia after 2020. However, the WHO EQS target value of 50ppb will still be exceeded. The AOT40 May-July and AOT40 April-September metrics, used for the protection of vegetation, have decreased significantly at three and four sites, respectively. The EQS for the protection of forests, AOT40 April-September 5000ppbh, is projected to no longer be exceeded for most of northern Europe sometime before the time period 2040-2059. However, if the EQS is based on Phytotoxic Ozone Dose (POD), POD1, it may still be exceeded by 2050. The increasing trend for low and medium range ozone concentrations in combination with a decrease in high concentrations indicate that a new control strategy, with a larger geographical scale than Europe and including methane, is needed for ozone abatement in northern Europe.

Economic Assessment of the Negative Impacts of Ozone on Crop Yields and Forest Production. A Case Study of the Estate Östads Säteri in Southwestern Sweden

Abstract Ground level ozone concentrations, in combination with the prevailing climate, at the estate Östads Säteri in southwestern Sweden were estimated to reduce the yield of wheat and potato ranging between 5% and 10%. Occasionally, in years with the highest ozone concentrations and/or climatic conditions favoring high rates of ozone uptake to the leaves, yield loss levels above 10% may occur. Based on simple extrapolation, these ozone-induced reductions of crop yields at Östads Säteri represent a potential total annual yield loss in Sweden in the range of 24.5 million Euro for wheat and 7.3 million Euro for potato, respectively. A simulation of forest growth at Östad Säteri predicted that prevailing mean ozone exposure during 1993–2003 had the potential to reduce forest growth by 2.2% and the economic return of forest production by 2.6%. Using this value for extrapolation to the national level, the potential annual economic loss for Sweden due to negative impacts of ozone on forest production would be in the range of 56 million Euro (2004 prices).

Air Pollution Risks to Northern European Forests in a Changing Climate

The air pollution load to northern European forests is changing as a result of emission reductions. Climate change modifies this load, either directly via atmospheric processes or indirectly by affecting emission patterns. We estimate the risk of harmful effects due to tropospheric ozone and nitrogen deposition in present and future conditions. Our modelling results show that critical levels are exceeded in northern Europe for both ozone and nitrogen. Emission reductions will reduce the vegetation stress, but climate change is likely to have an opposite effect. While tropospheric ozone is reduced, its phytotoxic dose increases due to atmospheric warming. The amplified warming in the Arctic may significantly enhance shipping emissions. The effect of these increases extends to the boreal region. In addition, we review recent literature on the interactions between climate change and air quality, and discuss the assessment of pollution risks and carbon stocks and related synergies in emission control.

Synoptic Weather Types and Long-range Transport Patterns for Ozone Precursors during High-ozone Events in Southern Sweden

Abstract We studied long-range transport patterns and related weather types in relation to high-ozone events in southern Sweden. The aim was to deepen the understanding of the relationship between Lamb-Jenkinson weather types and surface ozone concentration variation, thus widening the application of the weather type analysis of air quality at 4 sites in this region. The long-range transport patterns associated with high-ozone events were classified into trajectories from Western Europe, Eastern Europe, and in the vicinity of southern Sweden (VIC). The VIC type, characterized by short and whirling curves, represented more than 40% of the high-ozone events at the studied rural sites. More than half of the high-ozone events occurred under high-pressure conditions, belonging to weather type A (anticyclones). The high correlation coefficient between annual counts of weather type A and those of long-range transport pattern VIC confirmed the strong link between stagnant weather conditions and high-ozone events, especially during the summer. Furthermore, a strong linear anticorrelation was detected between high-ozone events and annual counts of weather type C (cyclones) during the summer. This relationship implies that the frequency of weather type C is a useful indicator for low risk of summertime high-ozone events in southern Sweden. Moreover, the relationship between the weather type and high ozone risk may be useful in examining the potential effect of climate change on the regional air quality.