Search the EPA Research Database

Project title

NEC Indicators for Air Pollution Effects on Terrestrial Ecosystems

Primary Funding Agency

Environmental Protection Agency

Co-Funding Organisation(s)

n/a

Lead Organisation

University College Dublin (UCD)

Lead Applicant

Thomas Cummins

Project Abstract

The National Emissions Ceilings Directive (NEC, NECD), obliges EU member states to operate networks of sites to monitor the effects of air pollution on freshwater and terrestrial ecosystems. A set of sites will be identified by Ireland for 1-July 2018, with monitoring data due for submission 1-July 2019, and on a four-year cycle thereafter. Indicators of air-pollution impact have been identified under NEC. This proposal for two four-year PhD studies aims to evaluate and improve terrestrial-ecosystem indicators, and fill knowledge gaps for monitoring in Ireland. It will improve the scientific basis for indicators of air-pollution effects, their representativeness for terrestrial ecosystems in Ireland, and the cost-effectiveness of evaluating them. Effects of acidification, eutrophication and ozone (PhD1) will be studied through: 1.1 Evaluating ratios of non-acid cations to labile aluminium in soil-solution sampling; 1.2-1.3 Assessing foliar N content across the N-deposition gradient, and soil-solution nitrate by habitat, linking N deposition and foliar nutrient content, and; 1.4-1.6 Modelling, measuring ozone concentrations and assessing foliar damage. Biodiversity effects of air pollution (PhD2) will be studied through: 2.1 Developing the use of epiphytic indicators of eutrophication; 2.2 Linking plant species diversity to deposition and soil-solution, and; 2.3 Assessing biodiversity impacts of critical load exceedance.

Grant Approved

�426,448.48

Research Hub

Climate Change

Research Theme

Air science

Start Date

02/01/2020

Initial Projected Completion Date

01/01/2024