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Ecosystem Research 

Defra and the Devolved Administrations has a number of research projects investigating the effects of air pollution on vegetation and ecosystems:

  • Pollutant Deposition
    Deposition of air pollutants can affect ecosystems, changing biodiversity and reducing water quality. This site provides UK information on atmospheric deposition in the UK, including:
    • Ammonia, Acid Gases and Aerosols
    • Heavy Metals
    In addition, the Pollutant Deposition Processes project provides the underpinning scientific basis for the measurement, modelling and mapping of air pollutant concentrations and deposition across the UK. One of the key aspects of this project has been the production of maps of pollutant concentration and deposition across the UK, based on measurements using the Concentration Based Estimated Deposition (CBED) approach. These maps underpin the UK's policy on acidification, eutrophication and ozone.
  • The UK Acid Waters Monitoring Network (UKAWMN) monitors the impacts of acid deposition on freshwater ecosystems in sensitive areas of the UK, and assesses their recovery following policies to reduce emissions of acidifying pollutants.
  • The Freshwater Umbrella research programme investigates the impacts of eutrophying and acidifying pollutants on freshwater ecosystems in the UK.
  • The UKREATE programme (UK Research on the Eutrophication and Acidification of Terrestrial Ecosystems), also known as the Terrestrial Umbrella, investigates the impacts of air pollution on UK terrestrial ecosystems. In particular it focuses on experiments investigating the impacts to vegetation of nitrogen deposition, and the development and testing of models to predict likely future impacts under different scenarios.
  • The UK National Focal Centre (UK NFC) for critical loads modelling and mapping co-ordinates mapping activities and compiles critical loads datasets. Critical loads maps and datasets provide a national picture of the areas at risk from the harmful effects of acidification and eutrophication.

Page last modified: 14 February 2011