Objective
The adverse effects of air pollution exposure and deposition on European ecosystems have resulted in protocols (e.g. the SOx and the NOx protocols) for deposition reduction below the critical loads. The use of deposition targets requires ecosystem-specific deposition estimates, taking into account local conditions and processes. These estimates are derived from process-based models and routine measurements.
Recently a pilot study financed by LIFE has been completed on routine deposition measurements at three intensive monitoring stations in Europe. However, more monitoring stations are required to allow a regionalization and mapping of atmospheric deposition. This is only feasible if the cost of monitoring can be reduced substantially.
ECN, in cooperation with TNO, RIVM, KEMA, ITE (UK) and IFT (Germany), are to develop a low-cost deposition monitoring device and strategy for application throughout Europe. This method will be validated and calibrated against the results of the continuous measurements made in the three existing core stations. The results will be used to:
- improve surface exchange parametrizations;
- to develop a model for mapping atmospheric deposition on an ecosystem scale in Europe, and
- to test, refine and validate the model including an uncertainty analysis to determine the accuracy of deposition estimation.
The expected results are:
- an economic and uncomplicated atmospheric deposition monitoring method for large scale application in Europe, which may form a basis for sulphur and nitrogen reduction policies in Europe;
- a method to protect ecosystems by determining, on a local scale, the accurate deposition and the critical load exceedings.
Topic(s)
Data not availableCall for proposal
Data not availableFunding Scheme
CSC - Cost-sharing contractsCoordinator
1755 ZG PETTEN
Netherlands