Exceedance of critical loads for the most sensitive ecosystems (dataset URL is not available)

External Data Spec Published 05 Jul 2010
Coordination Centre for Effects (CCE) Databases for use in the CCE Environmental Impact Assessment methodology are updated in collaboration with National Focal Centres. A "CCE background database" is used for Parties under the Convention or EC-member States that do not submit data.
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Coordination Centre for Effects (UNECE)
information.png Dataset URL:
http://wge-cce.org/Methods_Models
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The dataset URL is not available. For further clarification please contact the author or the organisation.
(Data -> Critical loads database and maps)

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(Hettelingh et al., 2008; Hettelingh, Posch, and Slootweg, personal communication December 2008). http://www.mnp.nl/en/themasites/cce/index.html

Related content

Indicators using this data

Exposure of ecosystems to acidification, eutrophication and ozone Exposure of ecosystems to acidification, eutrophication and ozone This indicator shows the negative impact of air pollution on ecosystems and vegetation in Europe. In particular, it shows: ecosystem areas with exceedances of the critical loads for acidification and eutrophication; and exposure of areas covered with vegetation (crops and forests) to ground-level ozone, the latest available rural concentrations of ozone and the annual variation of rural concentrations of ozone  at the European level . In the case of acidification and eutrophication, the area as well as the magnitude of critical load exceedances in ecosystems are shown. A critical load is a quantitative estimate of an exposure to one or more pollutants, below which significant harmful effects on specified sensitive elements of the environment do not occur according to present knowledge (ICP on Modelling and Mapping, 2015; UNECE, 2015). It represents the upper limit of one or more pollutants deposited on the Earth's surface that an ecosystem, such as a lake or a forest, can tolerate without its function (e.g. the nutrient nitrogen cycle) or its structure (e.g. with respect to plant species' richness) being damaged. A positive difference between the deposition loads of acidifying and/or eutrophying airborne pollutants and the critical loads is termed an 'exceedance'. In the case of ozone, the risk is estimated by reference to either a target value and a long-term objective, or to the 'critical level' for ozone for each location. The target value and the long-term objective are levels fixed with the aim of avoiding, preventing or reducing harmful effects on the environment. For ozone, the critical level is a concentration in the atmosphere, above which direct adverse effects on receptors, such as human beings, plants, ecosystems or materials, may occur according to present knowledge (ICP on Modelling and Mapping, 2015; UNECE, 2015).   
Exposure of ecosystems to acidification, eutrophication and ozone Exposure of ecosystems to acidification, eutrophication and ozone This indicator shows the negative impact of air pollution on ecosystems and vegetation in Europe. In particular, it shows: ecosystem areas with exceedances of the critical loads for acidification and eutrophication; and exposure of areas covered with vegetation (crops and forests) to ground-level ozone, last year's rural concentrations of ozone, and the annual variation at the European level of rural concentrations of ozone.   In the case of acidification and eutrophication, the area as well as the magnitude of critical load exceedances in ecosystems are shown. A critical load is a quantitative estimate of an exposure to one or more pollutants, below which significant harmful effects on specified sensitive elements of the environment do not occur according to present knowledge (ICP on Modelling and Mapping, 2015; UNECE, 2015). It represents the upper limit of one or more pollutants deposited on the Earth's surface that an ecosystem, such as a lake or a forest, can tolerate without its function (e.g. the nutrient nitrogen cycle) or its structure (e.g. with respect to plant species' richness) being damaged . A positive difference between the deposition loads of acidifying and/or eutrophying airborne pollutants and the critical loads is termed an 'exceedance'. In the case of ozone, the risk is estimated by reference to the 'critical level' for ozone for each location. This is a concentration of ozone in the atmosphere, above which direct adverse effects on receptors, such as human beings, plants, ecosystems or materials, may occur according to present knowledge (ICP on Modelling and Mapping, 2015; UNECE, 2015). 
Critical load exceedance for nitrogen Critical load exceedance for nitrogen Exceedance of critical loads for nitrogen deposition indicating risks for biodiversity loss in (semi)-natural ecosystems.
Exposure of ecosystems to acidification, eutrophication and ozone Exposure of ecosystems to acidification, eutrophication and ozone The indicator shows the ecosystem or crops areas at risk of exposure to harmful effects of ozone as a consequence of air pollution, and shows the state of change in acidification, eutrophication and ozone levels of the European environment. The risk is estimated by reference to the 'critical level' for ozone for each location, this being a quantitative estimate of the exposure to these pollutants below which significant and harmful effects do not occur in the long term at present knowledge. The fraction of agricultural crops that is potentially exposed to ambient air concentrations of ozone in excess of the EU target value and long-term objective set for the protection of vegetation is also shown. Eutrophication and acidification Critical loads of acidity and of nutrient nitrogen are employed to describe exposure to acidification and to eutrophication for forests and semi-natural areas in Europe, including Natura 2000 sites. The area where the deposition of acidifying and eutrophying pollutants is in exceedance of critical loads provides also an indication of the extent of European ecosystem area which is at risk of damage to biodiversity. By analysing the change of exceedances over time (comparative static analysis) an indication of the effects of changing air pollutant emissions over time is obtained. The magnitude of the exceedance (deposition minus critical load) is an important input to the dynamic modelling of time delays in damage. Inversely, once critical loads are no longer exceeded, recovery may take some time as well. By including the risk to be met within a legislative target and year the distance from this target can be evaluated. Ozone AOT40 is 'Accumulated ozone exposure over a threshold of 40 ppb'. The indicator shows the ecosystem or crop areas at risk of exposure to harmful levels of ozone as a consequence of air pollution. The risk is estimated by referring to the 'critical level' of ozone for sensitive areas. Thus, the indicator is a quantitative estimate of the exposure to ozone below which significant and harmful effects do not occur in the long term according to present knowledge. The fraction of agricultural crops that is potentially exposed to ambient air concentrations of ozone in excess of the EU target value set for the protection of vegetation is also shown.

Produced figures

Exceedance of critical loads of eutrophication deposition of nutrient nitrogen Exceedance of critical loads of eutrophication deposition of nutrient nitrogen The maps show areas where critical loads for eutrophication of freshwater and terrestrial habitats are exceeded
Exposure of ecosystems to acidification Exposure of ecosystems to acidification The maps show the average accumulated exceedance of critical loads for acidification in 1980 (top left), 1990 (top right), 2000 middle (left), 2010 middle (right), 2020 under the revised Gothenburg Protocol scenario emission reduction agreements (bottom left) and in 2030 assuming maximum technically feasible reduction (bottom right).
Exposure of ecosystems to eutrophication Exposure of ecosystems to eutrophication The maps show areas where critical loads for eutrophication of freshwater and terrestrial habitats are exceeded (CSI 005) by nitrogen depositions caused by emissions between 1980 (top left) and 2030 (bottom right)
Exceedance of critical loads for acidification by deposition of nitrogen and sulphur compounds in 2020 under Current Legislation to reduce national emissions Exceedance of critical loads for acidification by deposition of nitrogen and sulphur compounds in 2020 under Current Legislation to reduce national emissions The results were computed using the 2008 Critical Loads database hosted by the Coordination Centre for Effects (CCE).
Exceedance of critical loads for acidification by deposition of nitrogen and sulphur compounds in 2020 assuming a Maximum Feasible Reductions scenario Exceedance of critical loads for acidification by deposition of nitrogen and sulphur compounds in 2020 assuming a Maximum Feasible Reductions scenario The results were computed using the 2008 Critical Loads database hosted by the Coordination Centre for Effects (CCE).
Exceedance of critical loads for acidification by deposition of nitrogen and sulphur compounds in 2010 Exceedance of critical loads for acidification by deposition of nitrogen and sulphur compounds in 2010 The results were computed using the 2008 Critical Loads database hosted by the Coordination Centre for Effects (CCE).
Exceedance of critical loads for acidification by deposition of nitrogen and sulphur compounds in 2000 Exceedance of critical loads for acidification by deposition of nitrogen and sulphur compounds in 2000 The results were computed using the 2008 Critical Loads database hosted by the Coordination Centre for Effects (CCE).
Exceedance of critical loads for eutrophication due to the deposition of nutrient nitrogen in 2020 assuming a maximum feasible reductions scenario Exceedance of critical loads for eutrophication due to the deposition of nutrient nitrogen in 2020 assuming a maximum feasible reductions scenario The results were computed using the 2008 Critical Loads database hosted by the Coordination Centre for Effects (CCE).
Exceedance of critical loads for eutrophication due to the deposition of nutrient nitrogen in 2020 under current legislation to reduce national emissions Exceedance of critical loads for eutrophication due to the deposition of nutrient nitrogen in 2020 under current legislation to reduce national emissions The results were computed using the 2008 Critical Loads database hosted by the Coordination Centre for Effects (CCE).
Exceedance of critical loads for eutrophication due to the deposition of nutrient nitrogen in 2010 Exceedance of critical loads for eutrophication due to the deposition of nutrient nitrogen in 2010 The results were computed using the 2008 Critical Loads database hosted by the Coordination Centre for Effects (CCE).
Exceedance of critical loads for eutrophication due to the deposition of nutrient nitrogen in 2000 Exceedance of critical loads for eutrophication due to the deposition of nutrient nitrogen in 2000 The results were computed using the 2008 Critical Loads database hosted by the Coordination Centre for Effects (CCE).
Percentage of natural ecosystem area at risk of acidification (left) and of eutrophication for the 32 EEA member countries and EEA cooperating countries in 2000 and for two emission scenarios: current legislation (CLE) in 2010 and 2020, maximum feasible r Percentage of natural ecosystem area at risk of acidification (left) and of eutrophication for the 32 EEA member countries and EEA cooperating countries in 2000 and for two emission scenarios: current legislation (CLE) in 2010 and 2020, maximum feasible r Hettelingh J-P, Posch M, Slootweg J (eds.) (2008) Critical load, dynamic modelling and impact assessment in Europa: CCE Status Report 2008, Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency.
Percentage of ecosystem area at risk of acidification for EEA Member Countries and EEA Cooperating Countries in 2020 for a maximum feasible reduction (MFR) scenario Percentage of ecosystem area at risk of acidification for EEA Member Countries and EEA Cooperating Countries in 2020 for a maximum feasible reduction (MFR) scenario The results were computed using the 2008 Critical Loads database. Deposition data was made available by the LRTAP Convention EMEP Centre for Integrated Assessment Modelling (CIAM) at the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) in autumn 2007.
Percentage of ecosystem area at risk of acidification for EEA Member Countries and EEA Cooperating Countries in 2020 for a CLE scenario Percentage of ecosystem area at risk of acidification for EEA Member Countries and EEA Cooperating Countries in 2020 for a CLE scenario The results were computed using the 2008 Critical Loads database. Deposition data was made available by the LRTAP Convention EMEP Centre for Integrated Assessment Modelling (CIAM) at the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) in autumn 2007.
Percentage of ecosystem area at risk of acidification for EEA Member Countries and EEA Cooperating Countries in 2010 for a current legislation (CLE) scenario Percentage of ecosystem area at risk of acidification for EEA Member Countries and EEA Cooperating Countries in 2010 for a current legislation (CLE) scenario The results were computed using the 2008 Critical Loads database. Deposition data was made available by the LRTAP Convention EMEP Centre for Integrated Assessment Modelling (CIAM) at the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) in autumn 2007.
Percentage of ecosystem area at risk of eutrophication for EEA Member Countries and EEA Cooperating Countries in 2020 for a maximum feasible reduction (MFR) scenario Percentage of ecosystem area at risk of eutrophication for EEA Member Countries and EEA Cooperating Countries in 2020 for a maximum feasible reduction (MFR) scenario The results were computed using the 2008 Critical Loads database. Deposition data was made available by the LRTAP Convention EMEP Centre for Integrated Assessment Modelling (CIAM) at the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) in autumn 2007.
Percentage of ecosystem area at risk of eutrophication for EEA Member Countries and EEA Cooperating Countries in 2020 for a CLE scenario Percentage of ecosystem area at risk of eutrophication for EEA Member Countries and EEA Cooperating Countries in 2020 for a CLE scenario The results were computed using the 2008 Critical Loads database. Deposition data was made available by the LRTAP Convention EMEP Centre for Integrated Assessment Modelling (CIAM) at the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) in autumn 2007.
Percentage of ecosystem area at risk of eutrophication for EEA Member Countries and EEA Cooperating Countries in 2010 for a current legislation (CLE) scenario Percentage of ecosystem area at risk of eutrophication for EEA Member Countries and EEA Cooperating Countries in 2010 for a current legislation (CLE) scenario The results were computed using the 2008 Critical Loads database. Deposition data was made available by the LRTAP Convention EMEP Centre for Integrated Assessment Modelling (CIAM) at the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) in autumn 2007.

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