Evaluation of air pollution-related risks for Austrian mountain forests.
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.
Smidt
Stefan
S
Austrian Federal Office and Research Centre for Forests, A-1130 Vienna, Seckendorff-Gudent Weg 8, Austria. stefan.smidt@bfw.gv.at
Herman
Friedl
F
D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity; D000397:Air Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000531:Altitude; D001317:Austria; D017753:Ecosystem; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D016468:Forestry / Q000379:methods; D007854:Lead / Q000032:analysis; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000633:toxicity; D009585:Nitrogen Dioxide / Q000032:analysis; D010126:Ozone / Q000032:analysis; D011522:Protons / Q000009:adverse effects; D012307:Risk Factors; D013455:Sulfur / Q000633:toxicity; D014197:Trees / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology
D000393:Air Pollutants; D011522:Protons; D007854:Lead; D010126:Ozone; D013455:Sulfur; D009584:Nitrogen; D009585:Nitrogen Dioxide