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Project title

NEC Indicators: 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

n/a

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

n/a

Research Theme

Air Science

Start Date

02/01/2020

Initial Projected Completion Date

01/01/2024