RESUMO
To evaluate a new N-monitoring program in the framework of the UN-ECE ICP-Vegetation program using mosses as bioindicators, 490 moss samples were collected at 220 sites in Austria and analyzed for total N (N content) and delta(15)N signatures. Within-site variability of N content and delta(15)N signatures was tested for the first time on a large scale and was extremely low compared to between-site variability. N content in moss tissue ranged between 0.76% and 1.99% and delta(15)N signatures between -10.04 and -2.45. Altitude was significantly correlated with N content (P=0.021) and delta(15)N signatures (P<0.001). When comparing moss data to deposition data from 35 measurement sites, significant correlations between N content and N deposition (P=0.014) were found. Increasing delta(15)N signatures provided evidence for a change in N source and its respective isotopic composition with altitude, e.g., due to long-distance transport of reactive N or as a result of changes in the wetdry deposition ratio. Our study underlines that N deposition can generally be estimated by N content in mosses on a large scale, but that this approach has certain limitations, especially in areas with large differences in altitude and precipitation.
Assuntos
Briófitas/química , Monitoramento Ambiental , Nitrogênio/análise , Altitude , Áustria , Geografia , Isótopos de Nitrogênio , Análise de Componente Principal , Análise de RegressãoRESUMO
We modeled the behavior of an Austrian alpine forest ecosystem on calcareous soils under changing climate and atmospheric nitrogen deposition scenarios. The change of nitrate leaching, emission rates of nitrogen compounds, and forest productivity were calculated using four process-oriented models for the periods 1998-2002 and 2048-2052. Each model reflects with high detail a segment of the ecosystem: PnET-N-DNDC (photosynthesis-evapotranspiration-nitrification-denitrification-decomposition; short-term nitrogen cycling), BROOK90 (water balance for small and homogenous forest watersheds), HYDRUS (water flux in complex and heterogenous soils), and PICUS v1.3 (forest productivity). The nitrogen balance model (NBM) combines the individual results into a comprehensive picture and extends the specific values beyond the limits of the individual models. The evaluation of the findings was outlined with TRACE, a model enabling a long-term prognosis of nitrogen cycling in annual time steps. Temperature increase and nitrogen input are influenced by various components and processes of the forest ecosystem. An increase of the temperature of 2.5 degrees C led to an enhancement of the N2O emission rates and affected the mineralization and the nitrification rates with the consequence of increased nitrate leaching into the subsoil. Enhanced nitrogen input also showed notable effects on nitrate leaching.
Assuntos
Ecossistema , Modelos Biológicos , Nitrogênio/metabolismo , Árvores/metabolismo , Atmosfera , Áustria , Compostos de Cálcio , Geografia , Efeito Estufa , Óxidos , Medição de Risco , Solo , TemperaturaRESUMO
GOAL, SCOPE AND BACKGROUND: Ozone is the most important air pollutant in Europe for forest ecosystems and the increase in the last decades is significant. The ozone impact on forests can be calculated and mapped based on the provisional European Critical Level (AOT40 = accumulated exposure over a threshold of 40 ppb, 10,000 ppb x h for 6 months of one growing season calculated for 24 h day(-1)). For Norway spruce, the Austrian main tree species, the ozone risk was assessed in a basis approach and because the calculations do not reflect the health status of forests in Austria, the AOT40 concept was developed. METHODS: Three approaches were outlined and maps were generated for Norway spruce forests covering the entire area of Austria. The 1st approach modifies the AOT40 due to the assumption that forests have adapted to the pre-industrial levels of ozone, which increase with altitude (AOTalt). The 2nd approach modifies the AOT40 according to the ozone concentration in the sub-stomata cavity. This approach is based on such factors as light intensity and water vapour saturation deficit, which affect stomatal uptake (AOTsto). The 3rd approach combines both approaches and includes the hemeroby. The pre-industrial ozone level approach was applied for autochthonous ('natural') forest areas, the ozone-uptake approach for non-autochthonous ('altered') forest areas. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: The provisional Critical Level (AOT40) was established to allow a uniform assessment of the ozone risk for forested areas in Europe. In Austria, where ozone risk is assessed with utmost accuracy due to the dense grid of monitoring plots of the Forest Inventory and because the continuously collected data from more than 100 air quality measuring stations, an exceedance up to the five fold of the Critical Level was found. The result could lead to a yield loss of up to 30-40% and to a severe deterioration in the forest health status. However, the data of the Austrian Forest Inventory and the Austrian Forest Damage Monitoring System do not reflect such an ozone impact. Therefore, various approaches were outlined including the tolerance and avoidance mechanisms of Norway spruce against ozone impact. Taking into consideration the adaptation of forests to the pre-industrial background level of ozone, the AOT40 exceedances are markedly reduced (1st approach). Taking into account the stomatal uptake of ozone, unrealistic high amounts of exceedances up to 10,000 ppb x h were found. The modelled risk does not correspond with the health status and the wood increment of the Austrian forests (2nd approach). Consolidating the forgoing two approaches, a final map including the hemeroby was generated. It became clear that the less natural ('altered') forested regions are highly polluted. This means, that more than half of the spruce forests are endangered by ozone impact and AOT40 values of up to 30,000 ppb x h occur (3rd approach). CONCLUSIONS: The approaches revealed that a plausible result concerning the ozone impact on spruce forests in Austria could only be reached by combining pre-industrial ozone levels, ozone flux into the spruce needles and the hemeroby of forests.
Assuntos
Poluentes Atmosféricos/análise , Poluentes Atmosféricos/toxicidade , Monitoramento Ambiental , Ozônio/análise , Ozônio/toxicidade , Árvores/fisiologia , Adaptação Fisiológica , Altitude , Áustria , Ecossistema , Exposição Ambiental , Conceitos Meteorológicos , Modelos Biológicos , Modelos Teóricos , Oxidantes Fotoquímicos/análise , Oxidantes Fotoquímicos/toxicidade , Medição de Risco , Árvores/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Árvores/metabolismoRESUMO
The present paper describes air pollution status and evaluation of risks related to effects of phytotoxic pollutants in the Austrian mountain forests. The results are based on Austrian networks (Forest Inventory, Forest Damage Monitoring System, Austrian Bioindicator Grid), the Austrian sample plots of the European networks of the UN-ECE (ICP Forests, Level I and Level II) and interdisciplinary research approaches. Based on the monitoring data and on modelling and mapping of Critical Thresholds, the evaluation of risk factors was possible. Cause-effect relationships between air pollution and tree responses were shown by tree-physiological measurements. Sulfur impact, proton and lead input, concentrations of nitrogen oxides, nitrogen input and ozone were evaluated. The risk was demonstrated at a regional and large-scale national level. Especially the increasing O(3) level and the accumulation of Pb with altitude present most serious risk for mountain forests.
Assuntos
Poluição do Ar/efeitos adversos , Árvores/efeitos dos fármacos , Poluentes Atmosféricos/toxicidade , Altitude , Áustria , Ecossistema , Monitoramento Ambiental/métodos , Agricultura Florestal/métodos , Chumbo/análise , Nitrogênio/toxicidade , Dióxido de Nitrogênio/análise , Ozônio/análise , Prótons/efeitos adversos , Fatores de Risco , Enxofre/toxicidade , Árvores/química , Árvores/fisiologiaRESUMO
In Austria, the impact of sulphur has been assessed since 1985 with the help of the Austrian Bioindicator Grid on 760 sample plots with Picea abies as the main tree species (90%). The annual sampling allows a precise evaluation of the temporal and regional development of the impact of sulphur on the basis of legal standards. Despite the reduction of SO2 emissions in Austria, the legal standard is still exceeded on 8% of the plots. These plots are mainly located near large Austrian emittors, but also in areas affected by transboundary sulphur emissions from neighbouring countries. The present paper describes how the Bioindicator Grid can be applied for the control of legal requirements to enact effective clean air measures in Austria and take supportive measures that reduce the impact of sulphur from emittors in neighbouring countries.
Assuntos
Poluentes Atmosféricos/análise , Monitoramento Ambiental/métodos , Picea/química , Enxofre/análise , Poluição do Ar/legislação & jurisprudência , ÁustriaRESUMO
In the framework of this study, nitrogen fluxes on a limestone site are investigated. The major goals are the assessment of the nitrogen status, the estimation of the nitrogen budget and the evaluation of the nitrogen saturation. The investigation area, the intensive investigation plot and the research equipment are described.
Assuntos
Carbonato de Cálcio/química , Modelos Teóricos , Nitrogênio/análise , Nitrogênio/química , Altitude , Áustria , Monitoramento Ambiental , Concentração de Íons de HidrogênioRESUMO
The intensive investigation site 'Mühleggerkopfl' in the North Tyrolean Limestone Alps can be classified as a clean-air area site. The mean concentrations of NOx are far below the effect-related limit value of the WHO (30 microg NOx m(-3)). The gravitational depositions in the open field (bulk deposition) ranged from 10.8 to 14.7 kg N ha(-1) a(-1) (throughfall: 11.3 to 12.3 kg N ha(-1) a(-1)) in the measuring years 1998 to 2000. Compared to these data, depositions in other forested areas of the Austrian Alps amounted to up to 30 kg N ha(-1) a(-1). The gravitational depositions (bulk deposition) alone--without considering dry and occult deposition slightly exceeded the lower limit of Critical Loads for coniferous and deciduous forests (>10 kg N ha(-1) a(-1)), but were below the Critical Loads for calcareous forests (15-20 kg N ha(-1) a(-1)).
Assuntos
Carbonato de Cálcio/química , Óxidos de Nitrogênio/análise , Altitude , Áustria , Monitoramento Ambiental , Fenômenos Geológicos , Geologia , Óxidos de Nitrogênio/química , Chuva , ÁrvoresRESUMO
The water balance for the site Mühleggerköpfl in the North Tyrolean Limestone Alps has been established to a soil depth of 50 cm. The evaporation amounts to 42% and deep percolation is 58% of the precipitation. The surface runoff was negligible and therefore the according nitrate fluxes as welL Soil water analysis revealed mean nitrate concentrations of 3 to 15 mg NO3 L(-1), depending on soil depth. The nitrate concentrations at 50 cm soil depth and the associated percolation rates led to NO3-N outputs of 15.9 kg NO3-N ha(-1) in the year 1999 and 7.9 kg NO3-N ha(-1) in the year 2000.
Assuntos
Nitrogênio/análise , Árvores , Movimentos da Água , Altitude , Áustria , Carbonato de Cálcio , Monitoramento Ambiental , ChuvaRESUMO
In the North Tyrolean Limestone Alps a site was investigated over a four-year period (1998-2001) in order to assess the nitrogen saturation status, the nitrogen budget (quantification of the net uptake of nitrogen by the canopy and of the nitrogen mineralization, nitrogen uptake from roots and N2O emission rates, proof of the origin of nitrate in the soil water with stable isotope analyses), and the effects of the actual nitrogen input on ground water quality. The main goals were to quantify the nitrogen input rate, the nitrogen pools in above-ground and below-ground compartments, nitrogen turnover processes in the soil as well as the output into the groundwater and into the atmosphere. The findings are based on continuous and discontinuous field measurements as well as on model results. While nitrogen input exceeded the Critical Loads of the WHO (1995), nitrogen deficiency and nutrient imbalances were verified by needle analyses. The atmospheric input of inorganic nitrogen was higher than the nitrogen output in 50 cm soil depth. A tracer experiment with 15N helped to prove that not more than half of the applied nitrate could be discharged. This allows the conclusion that nitrogen is stored in the system and that the site cannot yet be said to be saturated with nitrogen. The same result was also obtained by modelling. In addition, it was proved that the nitrogen discharge did not stem from deposition but from processes within the system.