Evidence for changing the critical level for ammonia

Cape, J. N.; Eerden, L.J. van der; Sheppard, Lucy J.; Leith, Ian D.; Sutton, M. A.

doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2008.09.049

Cited by 148 publications

(109 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…Often it is assumed that the lowest concentration measured, usually upwind, represents the background (e.g. Cape et al, 2009). Alternatively, a reference background concentration is assumed based on monitoring network sites in rural locations (NETCEN, 2006).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Upwind impacts of ammonia from an intensive poultry unit

Jones

Nizam

Reynolds

et al. 2013

Environmental Pollution

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Abstract:This study investigated potential ammonia impacts on a sand dune nature reserve 600 m upwind of an intensive poultry unit. Ammonia concentrations and total nitrogen deposition were measured over a calendar year. A series of ammonia and nitrogen exposure experiments using dune grassland species were conducted in controlled manipulations and in the field.Ammonia emissions from the intensive poultry unit were detected up to 2.8 km upwind, contributing to exceedance of critical levels of ammonia 800 m upwind and exceedance of critical loads of nitrogen 2.8 km upwind. Emissions contributed 30% of the total N load in parts of the upwind conservation site. In the nitrogen exposure experiments, plants showed elevated tissue nitrogen contents, and responded to ammonia concentrations and nitrogen deposition loads observed in the conservation site by increasing biomass. Estimated longterm impacts suggest an increase in the soil carbon pool of 9% over a 50-year timescale.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Upwind impacts of ammonia from an intensive poultry unit

Jones

Nizam

Reynolds

et al. 2013

Environmental Pollution

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“…A CLE is a pollutant concentration in the atmosphere above which plants or ecosystems may be directly negatively affected (Posthumus, 1988). Recently, long term CLEs of NH 3 were reviewed and new, lower values proposed and adopted by the UNECE (Cape et al, 2009a;Sutton et al, 2009a;UNECE, 2007): 1 μg NH 3 m -3 for the most sensitive ecosystems, i.e. where lichens and bryophytes are part of the ecosystem integrity, and 3 ± 1 μg NH 3 m -3 for higher plants in other semi-natural ecosystems.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Heterogeneity of atmospheric ammonia at the landscape scale and consequences for environmental impact assessment

Vogt

Dragosits

Braban

et al. 2013

Environmental Pollution

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Scott; Rees, Robert M.; Sutton, Mark A. 2013. Heterogeneity of atmospheric ammonia at the landscape scale and consequences for environmental impact assessment.Contact CEH NORA team at noraceh@ceh.ac.ukThe NERC and CEH trademarks and logos ('the Trademarks') are registered trademarks of NERC in the UK and other countries, and may not be used without the prior written consent of the Trademark owner. AbstractWe examined the consequences of the spatial heterogeneity of atmospheric ammonia (NH 3 ) by measuring and modelling NH 3 concentrations and deposition at 25 m grid resolution for a rural landscape containing intensive poultry farming, agricultural grassland, woodland and moorland. The emission pattern gave rise to a high spatial variability of modelled mean annual NH 3 concentrations and dry deposition. Largest impacts were predicted for woodland patches located within the agricultural area, while larger moorland areas were at low risk, due to atmospheric dispersion, prevailing wind direction and low NH 3 background. These high resolution spatial details are lost in national scale estimates at 1 km resolution due to less detailed emission input maps. The results demonstrate how the spatial arrangement of sources and sinks is critical to defining the NH 3 risk to seminatural ecosystems. These spatial relationships provide the foundation for local spatial planning approaches to reduce environmental impacts of atmospheric NH 3 . Capsule:Fine scale resolution modelling to reproduce the spatial heterogeneity of atmospheric NH 3 concentrations and deposition is critical for NH 3 risk assessment on sensitive ecosystems. Highlights:• Local farm inventory provided field-level emissions for high resolution modelling• Model-derived concentrations were compared against intensive spatial measurements• Spatial arrangement of NH 3 sources and sinks is critical to environmental impact• Average national emission factors were not appropriate for an NH 3 risk assessment• Modelling at 1 km resolution did not capture the full spatial variability of NH 3

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“…The sensitivity of terrestrial biodiversity to the deposition of oxidized and reduced N provides the basis for setting critical loads for N deposition both in Europe and North America (Cape et al 2009;Bobbink and Hettelingh 2011;Pinho et al 2011Pinho et al , 2012. Independently derived critical levels for lichens and moss diversity have been found to be similar for northern and southern Europe, thus emphasizing the universal applicability of these plant groups as ecological indicators of N deposition.…”

Section: Terrestrial Biodiversity Impactsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The scientific understanding of how biodiversity is reacting to increasing N-inputs, and how this is affecting ecosystem resilience and ecosystem services remains limited. However, biodiversity seems to be a relatively sensitive metric for measuring the effects of N at the ecosystem level, i.e., loss of particular species from an ecosystem (Cape et al 2009). Changes in biodiversity can also be used to help identify those species most sensitive to increased N. We expect that various assessments of biodiversity will exhibit differences in scalability, temporal sensitivity, feasibility, and relevance.…”

Section: Terrestrial Biodiversity Impactsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Consequence of altered nitrogen cycles in the coupled human and ecological system under changing climate: The need for long-term and site-based research

Shibata

Branquinho

McDowell

et al. 2014

AMBIO

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Anthropogenically derived nitrogen (N) has a central role in global environmental changes, including climate change, biodiversity loss, air pollution, greenhouse gas emission, water pollution, as well as food production and human health. Current understanding of the biogeochemical processes that govern the N cycle in coupled human-ecological systems around the globe is drawn largely from the long-term ecological monitoring and experimental studies. Here, we review spatial and temporal patterns and trends in reactive N emissions, and the interactions between N and other important elements that dictate their delivery from terrestrial to aquatic ecosystems, and the impacts of N on biodiversity and human society. Integrated international and long-term collaborative studies covering research gaps will reduce uncertainties and promote further understanding of the nitrogen cycle in various ecosystems.

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Evidence for changing the critical level for ammonia

Abstract: for herbaceous species. There is insufficient evidence to provide a separate CLE NH3 for forest trees, but the value of 3 ± 1 µg NH 3 m -3 is likely to exceed the empirical Critical Load for N deposition for most forest ecosystems.

Cited by 148 publications

References 18 publications

Upwind impacts of ammonia from an intensive poultry unit

Upwind impacts of ammonia from an intensive poultry unit

Heterogeneity of atmospheric ammonia at the landscape scale and consequences for environmental impact assessment

Consequence of altered nitrogen cycles in the coupled human and ecological system under changing climate: The need for long-term and site-based research

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