Nitrogen deposition and strategies for the control of acidification and eutrophication across Great Britain

Abstract

It is now recognised that a multi-pollutant, multi-effect approach needsto be adopted to address the range of problems caused by atmosphericpollution. In this paper we use a relatively simple trajectory model (HARM)to explore the coupled behaviour of sulphur dioxide (SO2),oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and ammonia (NH3) andthe possible effects of future reductions in emissions of these pollutantson depositions of S and N across Great Britain. The performance of HARM withrespect to concentrations and depositions of NOy andNHx is assessed by comparison with data from nationalmonitoring networks. A range of emissions scenarios are modelled and theeffects of these reductions on critical loads exceedance are explored usingthe critical loads function (CLF), which allows both the acidification andeutrophication effects of S and N deposition to be explored simultaneously.Spatial variations in the reductions of deposition of S and/or N required tomeet critical loads are described. Reductions in emissions of the precursorsof strong acids (SO2 and NOx) yield benefits interms of ammonium deposition as a result of their coupled chemistry. Thedevelopment of strategies to control nitrogen deposition will need to take this non-linearity in to account.