The effects of air pollution on vegetation from a geographic perspective

Abstract

Researchers in many fields seek to understand the effects of anthropogenic changes in atmospheric chemistry on vegetation distributions. Particularly important needs for information from a pragmatic perspective include (1) relationships between short-and long-term metabolic consequences of pollutant uptake to vegetation distributions, and (2) indirect influences of air pollution on plant-community dynamics. Biogeography would be the appropriate discipline to make the most powerful contributions to these needs. This does not only mean gathering research output to show a broader picture. In addition, it means introducing new approaches from various fields in order to deepen understanding of spatial phenomena in the past and present, and to better predict patterns of the future. We review developments in both reductionist and holistic re s e a rch approaches that have effectively enhanced knowledge of how atmospheric emissions affect vegetation. Limitations of these approaches are also discussed. We assume that the contributions of Geographic Information Systems and remote sensing to this line of inquiry are sufficiently appreciated by the bio-and physical geography community to be de-emphasized here. Instead, other approaches better known in more specialized disciplines that are leading to powerful insights from a more restricted sector of the biogeographical community are emphasized. A synthetic core role for physical and biogeography that more fully embraces developments in related disciplines is then proposed.

Air pollution in a microclimate; the impact of different green barriers on the dispersion

“…This directive states: "The EU has set two limit values for nitrogen dioxide (NO2) for the protection of human health: the NO2 hourly mean value may not exceed 200 micrograms per cubic metre (µg/m 3 ) more than 18 times in a year and the NO2 annual mean value may not exceed 40 micrograms per cubic metre (µg/m 3 )" [7]. Apart from human health, NO2 can also affect vegetation [8][9][10]. NO2 is both a primary and secondary pollutant:…”

The spatiotemporal heterogeneity of the relationship between PM2.5 concentrations and the surface urban heat island effect in Beijing, China

“…To better analyze the characteristics of spatiotemporal heterogeneity and to more accurately identify the areas severely affected by the dual impacts of air pollution and UHI effect, this paper discusses spatiotemporal heterogeneity based on biophysics and socioeconomic background. Studies have shown that vegetation and water are factors that reduce the surface temperature and air pollution concentration (Chang and Terwilliger, 2000; Coutts et al, 2013; Fan et al, 2015). Green space planning can be used to control the existence of atmospheric particulate matter and the UHI effect (Xu et al, 2013).…”