Abstract
Atmospheric resources are very important for assessing ecosystem services at different administrative levels (e.g., state, region, etc.). Quantification of atmospheric calcium (Ca2+) deposition on the total basis provides incomplete information about the ecosystem services flows (both “natural” and “human-derived”), therefore lacking a systems approach to guide sustainable management of the flows which support many ecosystem services. This study assessed the value of wet, dry, and total atmospheric calcium deposition flows in the contiguous United States (U.S.) by different spatial aggregation levels (e.g., state, region) using information from the National Atmospheric Deposition Program (NRSP-3) and commodity prices of human-derived materials: agricultural limestone (CaCO3) and uncalcined gypsum (CaSO4•2H2O). The total provisioning ecosystem value of atmospheric calcium deposition flows was $66.7M (i.e., 66.7 million U.S. dollars) ($30M wet + $36.7M dry) based on an average 2014 price of $10.42 per U.S. ton of agricultural limestone (CaCO3) or nearly $364M ($164M wet + $200M dry) based on an average 2014 price of $33.00 per U.S. ton gypsum (CaSO4•2H2O). The quantified spatial distribution of wet, dry, and total atmospheric calcium deposition could be used to identify areas with opportunities for more efficient use of “human-derived” materials since they are already being supplied by atmospheric deposition.
Highlights
Atmospheric-derived ecosystem services are important for achieving some of the United Nations (UN) 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to sustain global human societies [1], for example:“2
The highest ranked states for total value of wet Ca2+ deposition based on a 2014 U.S average price of $33.00 per U.S ton of uncalcined gypsum were: (1) Texas ($20.04M), (2) Kansas ($8.75M), and
The results demonstrate the complex nature of atmospheric calcium deposition flows with different contributions of wet and dry depositions within states and regions (Figure 1)
Summary
Atmospheric-derived ecosystem services are important for achieving some of the United Nations (UN) 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to sustain global human societies [1], for example:“2. Atmospheric-derived ecosystem services are important for achieving some of the United Nations (UN) 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to sustain global human societies [1], for example:. Achieve food security and improve nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture; 3. Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for people at all ages; 6. Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all, and 15. Restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification and halt and reverse land degradation and biodiversity loss”. Atmospheric-derived ecosystem services fall in all four types of ecosystem services: (1) provisioning; (2) regulating; (3) cultural, and (4) supporting [2]
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