Abstract
Acidic deposition is considered a problem in Europe and North America but the potential for ecosystem damage from this pollution is also increasing rapidly in many developing countries. It is therefore important to assess current and future risks of ecosystem effects due to acidic deposition in these areas. It is possible to indicate risk areas by linking an assessment of sensitivity to net acidic input rates derived from deposition estimates for sulphur and nitrogen compounds and base cations. A method to assess and map a relative scale of terrestrial ecosystem sensitivity using international datasets is presented. The assessment relies on the determination of buffering mechanisms that prevent effects related to acidic deposition. Land-cover data, edaphic and climate datasets are combined using a GIS. Large areas are assessed as highly sensitive to acidic deposition in tropical regions of Asia, South and Central America and Africa, and also in the Boreal forests of northern Asia. Sensitive areas cover forest and non-forest ecosystems and some areas of agricultural production. Critical loads are not evaluated in this project but initial estimates will be applied to sensitivity classes at a further stage which will allow estimation of areas at risk by comparison with deposition.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Andersson, M.: 1988, Water, Air and Soil Pollution39, 439–62.
Chadwick, M.J. & Kuylenstierna, J.C.I.: 1991, Perspectives in Energy1, 71–93.
Edmunds, W.M. & Kinniburgh, D.G.: 1986, Journal of the Geological Society143, 707–20.
Eyre, S.R.: 1968, “Vegetation and Soils, A World Picture”. Edward Arnold, London.
FAO: 1992a, “Soil Properties and Qualities Estimation Based on Soil Groups of the Soil Map of the World”. AGLS Soil Resources Group Working Paper. FAO, Rome.
FAO: 1992b, “FAO Agrometeorological Database”. FAO, Rome.
FAO-Unesco.: 1988. “Soil Map of the World, Revised Legend”. World Resources Report60. FAO, Rome.
Hettelingh, J-P, Chadwick, M.J., Sverdrup, H.U. and Zhao, D.(eds.): 1995, “Assessment of environmental effects of acidic deposition”, Report from the “Acid Rain and Emission in Asia” project. RIVM, Bilthoven.
Jordan, C.F.: 1985, “Nutrient Cycling in Tropical Forest Ecosystems”. John Wiley, Chichester.
Lucas, A.E. and Cowell, D.W.: 1984, In: “Geological Aspects of Acid Deposition” (ed. by O.P. Bricker), Acid Precipitation Series 7, Ann Arbor. Butterworth, Boston, 113–129.
McDowell, W.H.: 1988, In “Acidification in Tropical Countries” (ed. by H. Rodhe and R. Herrera), SCOPE36 John Wiley, Chichester, 117–139.
McFee, W.W.: 1980, In “Atmospheric Sulfur Deposition Environmental Impact and Health Effects” (ed. by D.S. Shriner, C.R. Richmond and S.E. Lindberg), Ann Arbor, Michigan, 495–506.
Nilsson, J. & Grennfelt, P. (eds.):1988, “Critical Loads for Sulphur and Nitrogen”. Miljørapport 1988:15. Nordic Council of Ministers, Copenhagen.
Norton, S.A.: 1980, In “Atmospheric Sulphur Deposition: Environmental Impact and Health Effects” (ed. by D.S. Shriner, C.R.Richmond and S.E. Lindberg), Ann Arbor, Michigan. 521–32.
Olbrich, K., van Tienhoven, M., Skoroszewski, R., Zunckel, M and Taljaard, J.: 1995, “A Prototype Atmospheric Deposition Risk Advisory System for the Eastern Transvaal Province”. CSIR Report FOR-I 547, FORESTEK, CSIR, Pretoria.
Robertson, L., Rodhe, H. & Granat, L.: 1995, Water Air and Soil Pollution, this volume.
Rutgers University: 1990, “Global Grass I. Fifty global coverage maps”. Rutgers University, New Jersey. USA.
Sverdrup, H., de Vries, W. and Henriksen, A.: 1989, “Mapping Critical Loads: A Guide to the Criteria, Calculations, Data Collection and Mapping of Critical Loads”, UN-ECE and Nordic Council of Ministers.
Ulrich, B. & Sumner, M.E. (eds.): 1991, “Soil Acidity”. Springer Verlag, Berlin.
Yoshinaga, S., Suzuki, Y., Matsukura, Y., Kobayashi, M. and Arai, T.: 1994, Journal of the Science of Soil and Manure, Japan65, 565–568.
Zhao, Dianwu., Xiong, Jiling and Mao, Jietai.: 1994, “Mapping Sensitivity, Critical Loads and Exceedance for China”. RCEES, Beijing.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Kuylenstierna, J.C.I., Cambridge, H., Cinderby, S. et al. Terrestrial ecosystem sensitivity to acidic deposition in developing countries. Water Air Soil Pollut 85, 2319–2324 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01186180
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01186180