Critical loads Europe maps

At present, the calculation and mapping of critical loads for heavy metals is only at the beginning and in Europe there are only a few examples of application of methods described in Section 3.2. We will refer to case studies from Germany and Russia as the most characteristic research in this direction. The typical endpoints in these calculations refer to critical concentrations of different heavy metals in the ecosystems. The determination of the given critical concentrations is still uncertain and the relevant risk assessment calculated as an exceedance of critical loads should be based on selecting values of critical concentrations (see 3.2.2). 

Figure 6. Map of calculated exceedance for critical loads on the ecosystems surrounding the main natural gas pipeline Yamal-West Europe .

De Vries, W., Schutze, G., Romkens, P., Hettelingh, J-P., et al. (2002). Guidance for the Calculation of Critical Loads for Lead and Cadmium in Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecosystems. Preliminary Modelling and Mapping of Critical Loads for Cadmium and Lead in Europe. RIVM. Report 259101011/2002, pp. 17-35. 

Priputina I., Abramychev, A., Bashkin, V. (2002). Preliminary calculations of critical loads for Pb and Cd in forest ecosystems of the European Russia // Preliminary modelling and mapping of critical loads for cadmium and lead in Europe. RIVM. Report 259101011/2002. pp. 105-107. 

Reinds, G-J., De Vries, W., Groenenber, B-J. (2001). Critical loads of lead and cadmium for European Forest Soils. In Modelling and Mapping of Critical Thresholds in Europe. CCE Status Report 2001. RIVM. Belthoven. pp. 81-90. 

Critical loads data are usually presented as maps showing the sensitivity of receptors present at each location or as a percentile in the fi quency distribution of the receptors present within a particular grid square. Critical loads maps are available for the United Kingdom [15] for the acidification of soils and surface waters by sulphur and nitrogen compounds and for Europe [16], for the acidification of soils. 

CCE, Mapping critical loads for Europe, RIVM Bilthoven Netherlands, 1991. 

There is agreement both nationally and internationally that long-range transboundary air pollution may span continents pollutants are transferred from Europe to North America and Asia as well as in the opposite directions (Sofiev, 1998). Consequently, the calculation and mapping of critical loads as indicators of ecosystem sensitivity... 

At present, the calculation and mapping of critical loads for heavy metals is only in the beginning and in Europe there are only a few examples of application of methods described in Section 2. We will refer to case studies from Germany and Russia as a most characteristic research in this direction. 

Present examples of critical load calculations and mapping for terrestrial ecosystems in Europe. 

Tankanag, A. V. (1999). Application of GIS techniques for calculation and mapping of critical loads. In V. N. Bashkin, H. D. Gregor (Eds). Calculation of Critical Loads of Air Pollutants at Ecosystems of East Europe. Moscow POLTEX, Berlin UBA, 71-75. 

There is agreement both nationally and internationally that long-range transboundary air pollution may span continents pollutants are transferred from Europe to North America and Asia as well as in the opposite directions (Sofiev, 1998). Consequently, the calculation and mapping of critical loads as indicators of ecosystem sensitivity to acid deposition in regions outside Europe and North America are of great scientific and political interest. Some researches have been made to calculate the acidification loading for Asia (Dianwu et al, 1994 Shindo et al, 1995 World Bank, 1994 Kuylenstierna et al, 1995 Kozlov et al, 1997 Bashkin and Kozlov, 1999). 

FIettelingh J-P, Downing RJ and de Smet PA (1991) Mapping Critical Loads for Europe. CCE Technical Report No 1, Bdthoven. 

Posch, M., de Vries, W. and Hettelingh, J.-P. (1995). Critical loads of sulphur and nitrogen. In Calculation and Mapping of Critical Thresholds in Europe Status Report 1995. Posch, M., de Smet, P.A.M., Hettelingh, J.-P. and Downing, R.J. (Eds.), National Institute of Public Health and the Environment Bilthoven, The Netherlands, pp. 31—41. 

UN-ECE, United Nations Economic Commission for Europe Convention On Long-Range Transboundary Air Polltuion. (1996). Mapping critical levels/loads and geographical areas where they are exceeded. Umwelt-bundesamt Texte Nr. 71/96. Umweltbundesamt, Berlin. 

---