United Kingdom Eutrophying & Acidifying Network (UKEAP)
Introduction
The UK Eutrophying and Acidifying Pollutants (UKEAP) consists of a number of networks that monitor the deposition of both eutrophying and acidifying compounds in the United Kingdom. Due to the success of emission reductions in sulphur dioxide, acidification is no longer the issue it once was, but nitrogen pollution continues to be a concern. While its main emphasis has always been the assessment of potential impacts on UK ecosystems, UKEAP also provides the background concentration field for the secondary inorganic aerosol used to produce the 1 km x 1 km maps for PM2.5 and PM10, as well as the background 1 km x 1 km map for oxides of nitrogen used for human health impact assessments.
What is measured?
Parameters Measured | Monitoring sites and data |
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Nitrogen dioxide Calcium in precipitation Chloride in precipitation Potassium in precipitation Magnesium in precipitation Sodium in precipitation Phosphate as P in precipitation Nitrate as N in precipitation Ammonium as N in precipitation Sulphate as S in precipitation Non-marine sulphate as S in precipitation Acidity in precipitation Conductivity pH in precipitation Rainfall Sulphur dioxide as S Strong acid in precipitation Nitrogen dioxide (corrected) |
Current sites: 49 Total sites: 150 Data availability: 01/01/1973 to 01/08/2024 |
What is the purpose of the network?
The purpose of the networks is to monitor the long-term trends in pollutant concentrations in rural and remote locations of the United Kingdom. Data from the networks are used to demonstrate the UKs compliance in meeting the objectives set out in The Air Quality Standards Regulations 2010 and The National Emission Ceilings Regulations 2018. The monitoring data also contributes to the UK's obligations under the UNECE Convention on Long range transboundary air pollution (CLRTP) and the Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic (OSPAR). The measurements form an integral part of the ambient air quality models characterising air quality and deposition throughout the United Kingdom. These models include:
Modelling Ambient Air Quality (MAAQ) as part of The Air Quality Standards Regulations 2010)
Further details of how these measurements are used in compliance assessment modelling can be found on http://uk-air.defra.gov.uk. Modelled data are available from: https://uk-air.defra.gov.uk/data/pcm-data
Concentration Based Estimates of Deposition (CBED)
Further details of this work may be found on http://www.apis.ac.uk.
Fine Resolution Atmospheric Multi-pollutant Exchange (FRAME).
NAMN data used with the model for calculating ammonia concentrations in the UK at 5 km and 1 km resolution and assessing critical level exceedance. Further details of this work may be found on http://www.pollutantdeposition.ceh.ac.uk/frame
The modelled data also allows for critical loads exceedance for habitats which are sensitive to nitrogen and assessment of pressures and threats from air pollution as part of the conservation status assessments for The Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017.
How is the network run?
UKEAP is run by UKCEH and Ricardo on behalf of the Environment Agency, Defra and the devolved administrations and consists of 5 networks:
- UKEAP: National Ammonia Monitoring Network - Defra, UK
- UKEAP: Acid Gas and Aerosol Network - Defra, UK
- UKEAP: Precip-Net - Defra, UK
- UKEAP: Rural NO2 Network - Defra, UK
- UKEAP: Rural Mercury Network - Defra, UK
Monitoring Methods
Precipitation Composition |
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Nitrogen Dioxide |
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Nitric Acid, other acid gases and major components of secondary inorganic aerosol |
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Ammonia and Ammonium |
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Hourly trace gas (NH3, HNO3, HONO, HCl and SO2) and major inorganic ions in PM2.5 and PM10 (NH4+, Na+, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+, Cl-, NO3- and SO42-) |
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High resolution mercury (gaseous elemental Hg (GEM), particulate bound Hg (PBM) in PM2.5 and gaseous oxidised Hg (GOM)) |
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