Cite this dataset as
Hall, J. (2018). Critical loads of acidity and nutrient nitrogen for UK habitats. NERC Environmental Information Data Centre. (Dataset). https://doi.org/10.5285/299e2779-0787-46bb-9482-03ad474eae27
Import this citation into your reference management software:
BibTeX | Reference Manager (RIS) | Endnote
This dataset is made available under the terms of the Open Government Licence
Critical loads of acidity and nutrient nitrogen for UK habitats
Habitat distributions are defined from a combination of CEH Land Cover Map 2000 and a number of ancillary data sets (e.g., species distributions, altitude, soils), used to further refine their distributions. It should be noted that the habitat distributions maps and areas provided here and used for UK critical loads research for Defra (a) only include areas where data exist for the calculation or derivation of critical loads; (b) may differ from other national habitat distribution maps or estimates of habitat areas. This may also result in a difference in the total habitat areas mapped for acidity and for nutrient nitrogen critical loads.
The data have been generated under numerous Defra-funded contracts that brought together UK experts on the impacts of air pollution on UK habitats. The acidity critical loads data were last revised in 2004 and the nutrient nitrogen critical loads data were updated in 2011. The data are based on methods agreed at national and international meetings and workshops held under the UNECE Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution (CLRTAP).
Format
Comma-separated values (CSV)
Spatial information
- Study area
-
- Spatial representation type
- Tabular (text)
- Spatial reference system
- OSGB 1936 / British National Grid
Temporal information
- Temporal extent
-
2004-01-01 to 2011-12-31
Provenance & quality
* CLmaxS = maximum critical load of sulphur: the acidity critical load expressed in terms of sulphur only, when nitrogen deposition is zero
* CLmaxN = maximum critical load of nitrogen: the acidity critical load expressed in terms of nitrogen only, when sulphur deposition is zero
* CLminN = minimum critical load of nitrogen: representing the long term nitrogen removal processes in the soil (e.g. nitrogen uptake and immobilisation) and harvesting of vegetation.
Critical loads of nutrient nitrogen for natural and semi-natural habitats, and unmanaged (non-productive) woodlands are empirically derived values based on observed changes in the structure or function of ecosystems. For managed (productive) woodlands a nitrogen mass balance approach is used to derive critical loads that will prevent an increase in the leaching of nitrogen compounds and ensure sustainable production. Nutrient nitrogen critical loads are mapped for the following habitats: acid grassland, calcareous grassland, dwarf shrub heath, bog, montane, managed (productive) coniferous woodland, managed (productive) broadleaved woodland, unmanaged Beech woodland, unmanaged acidophilous oak woodland, unmanaged Scots Pine woodland, other unmanaged woodland, dune grasslands, saltmarsh.
A full description of the methods and data used to derive and calculate UK critical loads of acidity and nutrient nitrogen can be found in the 'Methods Report' (Hall et al, 2015).
Hall, J., Curtis, C., Dore, T., Smith, R. 2015. Methods for the calculation of critical loads and their exceedances in the UK. Report to Defra, prepared under Contract AQ0826. http://www.cldm.ceh.ac.uk/sites/cldm.ceh.ac.uk/files/MethodsReport_Updated_July2015_WEB.pdf
Citations
Supplemental information
Correspondence/contact details
Bangor
Gwynedd
LL57 2UW
UNITED KINGDOM
Author
Other contacts
- Custodian
-
NERC EDS Environmental Information Data Centreinfo@eidc.ac.uk
- Publisher
-
NERC Environmental Information Data Centreinfo@eidc.ac.uk
Additional metadata
More information about these numbers
Get the data
By accessing or using this dataset, you agree to the terms of the relevant licence agreement(s). You will ensure that this dataset is cited in any publication that describes research in which the data have been used.
This dataset is made available under the terms of the Open Government Licence
CITE AS: Hall, J. (2018). Critical loads of acidity and nutrient nitrogen for UK habitats. NERC Environmental Information Data Centre. https://doi.org/10.5285/299e2779-0787-46bb-9482-03ad474eae27
© Crown copyright and database right