Critical Loads and Dynamic Risk Assessments

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xxvii

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2. The History and Current State of Critical Loads and Dynamic Modelling Assessments

   • Wim de Vries, Jean-Paul Hettelingh, Maximilian Posch

   Pages 1-11

3. Assessment of Indicators for Air Pollutant Impacts

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 13-13

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   2. Geochemical Indicators for Use in the Computation of Critical Loads and Dynamic Risk Assessments

      • Wim de Vries, Maximilian Posch, Harald U. Sverdrup, Thorjørn Larssen, Heleen A. de Wit, Roland Bobbink et al.

      Pages 15-58

   3. Plant Species Diversity Indicators for Use in the Computation of Critical Loads and Dynamic Risk Assessments

      • Han F van Dobben, Maximilian Posch, G. W. Wieger Wamelink, Jean-Paul Hettelingh, Wim de Vries

      Pages 59-81

4. Empirical and Model-Based Critical Loads and Target Loads

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 83-83

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   2. Effects and Empirical Critical Loads of Nitrogen for Europe

      • Roland Bobbink, Hilde Tomassen, Maaike Weijters, Leon van den Berg, Joachim Strengbom, Sabine Braun et al.

      Pages 85-127

   3. Effects and Empirical Critical Loads of Nitrogen for Ecoregions of the United States

      • Linda H. Pardo, Molly J. Robin-Abbott, Mark E. Fenn, Christine L. Goodale, Linda H. Geiser, Charles T. Driscoll et al.

      Pages 129-169

   4. Mass Balance Models to Derive Critical Loads of Nitrogen and Acidity for Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecosystems

      • Maximilian Posch, Wim de Vries, Harald U. Sverdrup

      Pages 171-205

   5. Mass Balance Approaches to Assess Critical Loads and Target Loads of Metals for Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecosystems

      • Wim de Vries, Jan E. Groenenberg, Maximilian Posch

      Pages 207-222

5. Dynamic Modelling for the Assessment of Air Pollution Impacts at Site Scale

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 223-223

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   2. Dynamic Geochemical Models to Assess Deposition Impacts and Target Loads of Acidity for Soils and Surface Waters

      • Luc T. C. Bonten, Gert Jan Reinds, Jan E. Groenenberg, Wim de Vries, Maximilian Posch, Chris D. Evans et al.

      Pages 225-251

   3. Dynamic Geochemical Models to Assess Deposition Impacts of Metals for Soils and Surface Waters

      • Jan E. Groenenberg, Edward Tipping, Luc T. C. Bonten, Wim de Vries

      Pages 253-268

   4. Use of Combined Biogeochemical Model Approaches and Empirical Data to Assess Critical Loads of Nitrogen

      • Mark E. Fenn, Charles T. Driscoll, Qingtao Zhou, Leela E. Rao, Thomas Meixner, Edith B. Allen et al.

      Pages 269-295

   5. Field Survey Based Models for Exploring Nitrogen and Acidity Effects on Plant Species Diversity and Assessing Long-Term Critical Loads

      • Ed C. Rowe, G. W. Wieger Wamelink, Simon M. Smart, Adam Butler, Peter A. Henrys, Han F. van Dobben et al.

      Pages 297-326

   6. Use of an Integrated Soil-Vegetation Model to Assess Impacts of Atmospheric Deposition and Climate Change on Plant Species Diversity

      • Salim Belyazid, Harald U. Sverdrup, Daniel Kurz, Sabine Braun

      Pages 327-358

   7. Evaluation of Plant Responses to Atmospheric Nitrogen Deposition in France Using Integrated Soil-Vegetation Models

      • Anne Probst, Carole Obeidy, Noémie Gaudio, Salim Belyazid, Jean-Claude Gégout, Didier Alard et al.

      Pages 359-379

   8. Use of an Empirical Model Approach for Modelling Trends of Ecological Sustainability

      • Angela Schlutow, Thomas Dirnböck, Tomasz Pecka, Thomas Scheuschner

      Pages 381-400

6. Critical Loads and Dynamic Model Applications on a Regional Scale

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 401-401

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   2. Assessment of Critical Loads of Sulphur and Nitrogen and Their Exceedances for Terrestrial Ecosystems in the Northern Hemisphere

      • Gert Jan Reinds, Maximilian Posch, Julian Aherne, Martin Forsius

      Pages 403-417

This book provides a unique overview of research methods over the past 25 years assessing critical loads and temporal effects of the deposition of air pollutants. It includes critical load methods and applications addressing acidification, eutrophication and heavy metal pollution of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Applications include examples for each air pollution threat, both at local and regional scale, including Europe, Asia, Canada and the US. The book starts with background information on the effects of the deposition of sulphur, nitrogen and heavy metals and geochemical and biological indicators for risk assessments. The use of those indicators is then illustrated in the assessment of critical loads and their exceedances and in the temporal assessment of air pollution risks. It also includes the most recent developments of assessing critical loads and current and future risks of soil and water chemistry and biodiversity under climate change, with a special focus on nitrogen. The book thus provides a complete overview of the knowledge that is currently used for the scientific support of policies in the field of air pollution control to protect ecosystem services.

• Acidification
• Critical loads
• Ecosystem impacts
• Environmental risk assessment
• Eutrophication
• air pollution and air quality

• Alterra Wageningen University and Research Centre, Wageningen, The Netherlands

  Wim de Vries

• RIVM – Coordination Centre for Effects, Bilthoven, The Netherlands

  Jean-Paul Hettelingh, Maximilian Posch

Wim de Vries holds a Ph.D. in Soil Chemistry and worked from 1983–88 at the Netherlands Soil Survey Institute on the accumulation and leaching of nutrients, aluminium and acidity in soils in response to changed inputs. From 1989–1999 he worked at the DLO-Winand Staring Centre, mainly concentrating on critical loads of nitrogen and acidity in view of effects on soil and soil solution chemistry, growth, vitality and species diversity of terrestrial ecosystems. Since 2000, he is a senior research scientist at Alterra, part of Wageningen University and Research Centre. Wim de Vries is also professor at the Environmental Systems Analysis Group of Wageningen University where he holds the chair "Integrated nitrogen impact modelling”. His research is organized around impacts of the changes in land use, air quality and climate change on ecosystem services and the environment. This includes impacts on productivity and carbon sequestration of terrestrial ecosystems, greenhouse gas emissions, plant species diversity and soil and water quality.

Jean-Paul Hettelingh holds a Ph.D. in economics. He has held research positions at the Free University (Amsterdam) from 1978-1985, at the International Institute of Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA-Austria) from 1986-1989. He was professor in environmetrics at the University of Leiden from 1997-2002. Since 1990 he directs the Coordination Centre for Effects (CCE) located at RIVM. The CCE is a program centre under the Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution focussing on the development of effect-based modelling methods and data. The CCE also participates in consortia funded by the European Union. He has extensive experience with the analysis of environmental systems in general and of effects of air pollution in particular. He is co-author of environmental impact modules of integrated assessment models of air pollution in Europe (RAINS) and Asia (RAINS-Asia). He conducts the development and policyapplication of methodologies for the computation and use of critical thresholds for air pollution effects in Europe.

Maximilian Posch holds a Ph.D. in Physics and a Masters degree in Mathematics from the Technical University of Vienna and worked from 1981–89 at the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) in Laxenburg (Austria) on the integrated assessment of acidification in Europe (the RAINS/GAINS model). From 1990–1994 he worked at the Finnish Water and Environment Research Institute in Helsinki on the environmental impacts of acid deposition and agricultural practices. Since 1995 he is senior researcher at the Coordination Centre for Effects (CCE) at the Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM). His research concentrates on modelling the effects of air pollution on terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems and the transfer of that knowledge to policy making.

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