Impact of Acid Deposition Caused by Air Pollution in Central Europe

1992 ◽  
pp. 594-595
Author(s):  
H. M. Brechtel
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Central Europe ◽  
Acid Deposition

scholarly journals Anthropogenic Effects on Forest Ecosystems at Various Spatio-Temporal Scales

2002 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
pp. 827-841 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Bredemeier
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Long Range ◽  
Acid Deposition ◽  
Soil Degradation ◽  
Forest Ecosystems ◽  
Global Scale ◽  
Soil Productivity ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
The World

The focus in this review of long-term effects on forest ecosystems is on human impact. As a classification of this differentiated and complex matter, three domains of long-term effects with different scales in space and time are distinguished: 1- Exploitation and conversion history of forests in areas of extended human settlement 2- Long-range air pollution and acid deposition in industrialized regions 3- Current global loss of forests and soil degradation.There is an evident link between the first and the third point in the list. Cultivation of primary forestland — with its tremendous effects on land cover — took place in Europe many centuries ago and continued for centuries. Deforestation today is a phenomenon predominantly observed in the developing countries, yet it threatens biotic and soil resources on a global scale. Acidification of forest soils caused by long-range air pollution from anthropogenic emission sources is a regional to continental problem in industrialized parts of the world. As a result of emission reduction legislation, atmospheric acid deposition is currently on the retreat in the richer industrialized regions (e.g., Europe, U.S., Japan); however, because many other regions of the world are at present rapidly developing their polluting industries (e.g., China and India), “acid rain” will most probably remain a serious ecological problem on regional scales. It is believed to have caused considerable destabilization of forest ecosystems, adding to the strong structural and biogeochemical impacts resulting from exploitation history.Deforestation and soil degradation cause the most pressing ecological problems for the time being, at least on the global scale. In many of those regions where loss of forests and soils is now high, it may be extremely difficult or impossible to restore forest ecosystems and soil productivity. Moreover, the driving forces, which are predominantly of a demographic and socioeconomic nature, do not yet seem to be lessening in strength. It can only be hoped that a wise policy of international cooperation and shared aims can cope with this problem in the future.

Melanism in Biston betularius from north-west Europe (Lepidoptera: Geometridae)

1976 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 261-266 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
20Th Century ◽  
Central Europe ◽  
Clinal Variation ◽  
North West ◽  
South West ◽  
Random Samples ◽  
Melanic Form ◽  
The 19Th Century ◽  
Nw Europe

AbstractRandom samples of B. betularius males show a clinal variation in the degree of melanism: from high melanic frequencies in Denmark and south-west Sweden to almost no melanism in south Finland. Old samples from Denmark dating back to the end of the 19th century have strikingly lower melanic frequencies than recent samples showing an increase in melanism during the 20th century in NW Europe. Levels of air pollution and melanic frequency coincide fairly well indicating that the spread of melanism is a response to increased air pollution as also is demonstrated elsewhere. In Britain, in central Europe, and in USA a black morph has evolved whereas in NW Europe the grey morph (insularius) is the predominating melanic form indicating that evolution of melanism in B. betularius has followed its own course in NW Europe.

scholarly journals Changing Trends in Sulfur Emissions in Asia:  Implications for Acid Deposition, Air Pollution, and Climate

2002 ◽  
Vol 36 (22) ◽  
pp. 4707-4713 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gregory R. Carmichael ◽  
David G. Streets ◽  
Giuseppe Calori ◽  
Markus Amann ◽  
Mark Z. Jacobson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Acid Deposition ◽  
Changing Trends ◽  
Sulfur Emissions

Air pollution and forest decline in Central Europe

1995 ◽  
Vol 90 (2) ◽  
pp. 171-180 ◽  
Author(s):  
Otto Kandler ◽  
John L. Innes
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Central Europe ◽  
Forest Decline

Response of Evernia prunastri to urban environmental conditions in Central Europe after the decrease of air pollution

2013 ◽  
Vol 45 (1) ◽  
pp. 89-100 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna LACKOVIČOVÁ ◽  
Anna GUTTOVÁ ◽  
Martin BAČKOR ◽  
Peter PIŠÚT ◽  
Ivan PIŠÚT
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Central Europe ◽  
Photosynthetic Pigments ◽  
Urban Environments ◽  
Physiological Status ◽  
Epiphytic Lichens ◽  
Evernia Prunastri ◽  
Epiphytic Lichen ◽  
Lichen Diversity ◽  
Positive Correlations

AbstractThe epiphytic lichen Evernia prunastri is sensitive to air pollution and reacted by total retreat to the worsening of air quality during the peak of SO2 pollution in Central Europe (1950s–1990). Since 1990, after a significant decrease in air pollution, epiphytic lichens recolonized previously polluted areas, including E. prunastri. We investigated the physiological status of E. prunastri, transplanted for six months in 34 sites in the urban area of Bratislava (Slovakia) under current conditions. The content of chlorophylls, cortical and medullar secondary metabolites and soluble proteins were explored. We then examined the relationship of these parameters with the environmental quality status, reflected by the diversity of epiphytic lichens. The results showed that the physiological status of E. prunastri did not change significantly after exposure. Positive correlations were found between lichen diversity in the sampling sites and physiological parameters (photosynthetic pigments and phaeophytinization quotient) in the transplants. Transplants from sampling sites with a greater proportion of nitrophilous lichens displayed a decrease in photosynthetic pigments. Sites where E. prunastri naturally occurred had a lower proportion of nitrophilous species in comparison to sites where E. prunastri was not present. This suggests that the indicator species E. prunastri may also recolonize sites with low eutrophication in urban environments under decreased air pollution, and the information on its presence can help to assess the pressure caused by nitrogen excess.

Integrated ecological research of catchment-lake ecosystems in the Bohemian Forest (Central Europe): A preface

Biologia ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 61 (20) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiří Kopáček ◽  
Jaroslav Vrba
Keyword(s):  
Central Europe ◽  
Acid Deposition ◽  
Partial Recovery ◽  
Ecological Research ◽  
Climatic Effects ◽  
Lake Ecosystems ◽  
Bohemian Forest ◽  
Forest Lakes ◽  
Long Term Ecological Research ◽  
The Bohemian Forest

AbstractThe Bohemian Forest (Šumava, Böhmerwald) is situated in Central Europe and is among the most acidified lake districts in the world. Deposition of S and N compounds in the area rapidly increased between 1950 and 1980, and reached a maximum in the 1980s. During the 1990s, acid deposition decreased substantially, and current levels are comparable to the early 20th century for SO42− and NH4+, and to the mid 1960s for NO3−. These changes in acid deposition have led to a partial recovery of the Bohemian Forest lakes. This paper provides an overview of previous research, and details on the organization and aims of current research on the Bohemian Forest lakes. Available historical data and regular monitoring (since 1984) provide a valuable background for long-term ecological research of the catchment-lake ecosystems that currently focuses on (i) chemical reversal and biological recovery of the lakes, (ii) acidification impacts on in-lake nutrient cycling, (iii) climatic effects on water chemistry, and (iv) catchment processes, including soil biogeochemistry and acidification impacts on vegetation.

A review of air pollution and atmospheric deposition dynamics in southern Saxony, Germany, Central Europe

2003 ◽  
Vol 37 (5) ◽  
pp. 671-691 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frank Zimmermann ◽  
Herbert Lux ◽  
Willy Maenhaut ◽  
Jörg Matschullat ◽  
Kirsten Plessow ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Atmospheric Deposition ◽  
Central Europe

scholarly journals Air quality and acid deposition impacts of local emissions and transboundary air pollution in Japan and South Korea

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (20) ◽  
pp. 13309-13323 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steve Hung Lam Yim ◽  
Yefu Gu ◽  
Matthew A. Shapiro ◽  
Brent Stephens
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Air Quality ◽  
South Korea ◽  
East Asia ◽  
Human Health ◽  
Acid Deposition ◽  
Seasonal Variations ◽  
Ambient Air ◽  
Transboundary Air Pollution ◽  
Local Emissions

Abstract. Numerous studies have reported that ambient air pollution, which has both local and long-range sources, causes adverse impacts on the environment and human health. Previous studies have investigated the impacts of transboundary air pollution (TAP) in East Asia, albeit primarily through analyses of episodic events. In addition, it is useful to better understand the spatiotemporal variations in TAP and the resultant impact on the environment and human health. This study aimed at assessing and quantifying the air quality impacts in Japan and South Korea due to local emissions and TAP from sources in East Asia - one of the most polluted regions in the world. We applied state-of-the-science atmospheric models to simulate air quality in East Asia and then analyzed the air quality and acid deposition impacts of both local emissions and TAP sources in Japan and South Korea. Our results show that ∼ 30 % of the annual average ambient PM2.5 concentrations in Japan and South Korea in 2010 were contributed to by local emissions within each country, while the remaining ∼ 70 % were contributed to by TAP from other countries in the region. More detailed analyses also revealed that the local contribution was higher in the metropolises of Japan (∼ 40 %–79 %) and South Korea (∼ 31 %–55 %) and that minimal seasonal variations in surface PM2.5 occurred in Japan, whereas there was a relatively large variation in South Korea in the winter. Further, among all five studied anthropogenic emission sectors of China, the industrial sector represented the greatest contributor to annual surface PM2.5 concentrations in Japan and South Korea, followed by the residential and power generation sectors. Results also show that TAP's impact on acid deposition (SO42- and NO3-) was larger than TAP's impact on PM2.5 concentrations (accounting for over 80 % of the total deposition), and that seasonal variations in acid deposition were similar for both Japan and South Korea (i.e., higher in both the winter and summer). Finally, wet deposition had a greater impact on mixed forests in Japan and savannas in South Korea. Given these significant impacts of TAP in the region, it is paramount that cross-national efforts should be taken to mitigate air pollution problems across East Asia.

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