REGIONAL MODELLING OF CATCHMENT ACIDIFICATION AND FOREST DECLINE.

Objective

FURTHER DEVELOPMENT AND VERIFICATION OF A QUANTITATIVE CATCHMENT MODEL TO TEST THE HYPOTHESES RELATING ACID DEPOSITION TO WATERSHED ACIDIFICATION AND FOREST DECLINE.

THIS COOPERATIVE PROJECT BETWEEN THE INSTITUTE OF SOIL SCIENCE AND FOREST NUTRITION (FRG, HAUHS) THE INSTITUTE OF HYDROLOGY (UK, WHITEHEAD) AND THE NORVEGIAN INSTITUTE FOR WATER RESEARCH (N, WRIGHT) HAS TWO MAJOR GOALS :

A) TO FURTHER DEVELOP THE EXISTING MAGIC MODEL INTO A QUANTITATIVE CATCHMENT MODEL BY WHICH HYPOTHESES RELATING ACID DEPOSITION TO WATERSHED ACIDIFICATION AND FOREST DECLINE (PREDISPOSING FACTORS) CAN BE TESTED. NORWAY SPRUCE (PICAE ABIES KARST.) FORESTS WHICH ARE MOST WIDELY AFFECTED BY DECLINE WILL BE CONSIDERED.

B) TO VALIDATE THE CATCHMENT MODEL ON THE BASIS OF REGIONAL DATA FROM THE "CASE STUDY HARZ", A PROJECT THAT IS CURRENTLY UNDER REVIEW BY THE GERMAN MINISTRY OF RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY (BMFT). THE FOLLOWING DATA WILL BE INCLUDED IN THE VALIDATION PROCEDURE OF THE CATCHMENT MODEL.
- REGIONAL DEPOSITION RATES;
- SOIL CHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS, FROM 3 MAJORS GEOLOGICAL FACIES, DOWN TO BEDROCK
- REGIONAL STREAM WATER CHEMISTRY
- BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS IN TYPICAL STREAMS
- RECONSTRUCTION OF HISTORIC LOADS FROM SEDIMENT CORES
- DISTRIBUTION OF DIFFERENT DAMAGE SYMTOMS (INVESTIGATED ON THE BASIS OF INFRARED AIR PHOTOGRAPHY)

Programme(s)

• FP1-ENVPROT 4C - Multiannual research and development programmes (EEC) in the field of the environment - Protection of the environment -, 1986-1990

Funding Scheme

CSC - Cost-sharing contracts

Coordinator

GEORG-AUGUST-UNIVERSITY GOETTINGEN

Address

Grisebachstrasse 6
37077 Goettingen
Germany