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| Titel |
The development of an approach to assess critical loads of acidity for woodland habitats in Great Britain |
| VerfasserIn |
S. J. Langan, J. Hall, B. Reynolds, M. Broadmeadow, M. Hornung, M. S. Cresser |
| Medientyp |
Artikel
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| Sprache |
Englisch
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| ISSN |
1027-5606
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| Digitales Dokument |
URL |
| Erschienen |
In: Hydrology and Earth System Sciences ; 8, no. 3 ; Nr. 8, no. 3, S.355-365 |
| Datensatznummer |
250005608
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| Publikation (Nr.) |
 copernicus.org/hess-8-355-2004.pdf |
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| Zusammenfassung |
| Alongside other countries that are signatories to the UNECE Convention Long
Range Transboundary on Air Pollution, the UK is committed to reducing the impact of air
pollution on the environment. To advise and guide this policy in relation to atmospheric
emissions of sulphur and nitrogen, a critical load approach has been developed. To assess
the potential impact of these pollutants on woodland habitats a steady state, simple mass
balance model has been parameterised. For mineral soils, a Ca:Al ratio in soil solution
has been used as the critical load indicator for potential damage. For peat and organic
soils critical loads have been set according to a pH criterion. Together these approaches
have been used with national datasets to examine the potential scale of acidification in
woodland habitats across the UK. The results can be mapped to show the spatial variability
in critical loads of the three principal woodland habitat types (managed coniferous,
managed broadleaved/ mixed woodland and unmanaged woodland). The results suggest that
there is a wide range of critical loads. The most sensitive (lowest) critical loads are
associated with managed coniferous followed by unmanaged woodland on peat soils.
Calculations indicate that at steady state, acid deposition inputs reported for 1995–1997
result in a large proportion of all the woodland habitats identified receiving deposition
loads in excess of their critical load; i.e. critical loads are exceeded. These are
discussed in relation to future modelled depositions for 2010. Whilst significant
widespread negative impacts of such deposition on UK woodland habitats have not been
reported, the work serves to illustrate that if acid deposition inputs were maintained
and projected emissions reductions not achieved, the long-term sustainability of large
areas of woodland in the UK could be compromised.
Keywords: critical loads, acid deposition, acidification, woodland, simple mass balance
model, sustainability |
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