Deposition and concentration values for protected sites in the UK (2014-2016)
https://doi.org/10.5285/735dd995-333c-4b02-8fb1-287b7b2cefdf
Cite this dataset as:
Bealey, W.J.; Martin Hernandez, C.; Smith, R.I.; Stedman, J.R. (2018). Deposition and concentration values for protected sites in the UK (2014-2016). NERC Environmental Information Data Centre. https://doi.org/10.5285/735dd995-333c-4b02-8fb1-287b7b2cefdf
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Copyright © UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Natural Resources Wales, Environment Agency, the Northern Ireland Environment Agency, Natural England, the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC), Scotland and Northern Ireland Forum for Environmental Research (SNIFFER), the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH)
This dataset is made available under the terms of the Open Government Licence 
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This dataset record provides deposition values of sulphur and nitrogen deposition and concentration values for ammonia (NH3), sulphur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxide (NOx) on the UK nature conservation protected sites, averaged over the years 2014 to 2016. The set also includes calculated minimum, maximum and gridded average values for each site. Protected nature sites covered are:
(i) Special Areas of Conservation (SAC)
(ii) Special Protection Areas (SPA)
(iii) Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).
The data consist of values of nitrogen and acid deposition, and concentrations of ammonia (NH3) based on the Concentration Based Estimated Deposition (CBED), and concentrations of NOx and SO2 using the Pollution Climate Mapping (PCM) model. Nitrogen and acid deposition data is also given for specific habitat types including:
(i) moorland/short vegetation everywhere,
(ii) forest everywhere, and
(iii) the grid square average over multiple land cover types (i.e. arable, grassland, forest, moorland, urban)
These habitat-specific data are recommended for use with critical loads and levels for the calculation of critical load/level exceedances using the relevant habitat type.
(i) Special Areas of Conservation (SAC)
(ii) Special Protection Areas (SPA)
(iii) Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).
The data consist of values of nitrogen and acid deposition, and concentrations of ammonia (NH3) based on the Concentration Based Estimated Deposition (CBED), and concentrations of NOx and SO2 using the Pollution Climate Mapping (PCM) model. Nitrogen and acid deposition data is also given for specific habitat types including:
(i) moorland/short vegetation everywhere,
(ii) forest everywhere, and
(iii) the grid square average over multiple land cover types (i.e. arable, grassland, forest, moorland, urban)
These habitat-specific data are recommended for use with critical loads and levels for the calculation of critical load/level exceedances using the relevant habitat type.
Publication date: 2018-06-27
View numbers valid from 01 June 2023 Download numbers valid from 20 June 2024 (information prior to this was not collected)
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
2014-01-01 to 2016-12-31
Provenance & quality
The Air Pollution Information System (APIS), through the 'Site Relevant Critical Loads' tool, provides critical loads for acidity and nitrogen and critical levels for ammonia, sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides for designated features within every SAC, SPA or A/SSSI in the UK. In addition, deposition and concentration data for nitrogen and sulphur pollutants are provided at each site to give an estimate of critical load/level exceedance.
The data provided is based on pollutant deposition gridded maps for nitrogen and acid deposition and concentration maps of ammonia, nitrogen oxides and sulphur, which are overlayed to a GIS shape file of site boundaries in the UK (e.g. SAC, SPA, SSSI). These gridded maps were then clipped to provide the pollutant values for each grid square including the area of the clipped grid. The resulting data was then queried to generate site statistics in the form of a minimum, maximum and area weighted average values for each of the pollutants.
For nitrogen and acid deposition values and ammonia concentrations, three year average pollutant maps were used at a resolution of 5 x 5 km from the CBED model for the years 2014-2016. For nitrogen dioxide and sulphur dioxide concentrations the 1 x 1 km PCM model was used based on the 3 year average (2014-2016). Deposition values are generated for specific habitat types (forest and semi-natural) to be used in critical load exceedance calculations.
This dataset is an update to the 2013-2015 dataset with the addition of concentration and deposition data for the year 2016, and removal of data for the year 2013, hence a new 3-year average 2014 to 2016. The full methodology is available in the contextual metadata which can be found attached to this record.
The work of APIS is jointly funded between the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology and the UK pollution and conservation agencies including Natural Resources Wales (NRW), the Environment Agency, Northern Ireland Environment Agency, Natural England, the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC), Scotland and Northern Ireland Forum for Environmental Research (SNIFFER), the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), and Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH).
The data provided is based on pollutant deposition gridded maps for nitrogen and acid deposition and concentration maps of ammonia, nitrogen oxides and sulphur, which are overlayed to a GIS shape file of site boundaries in the UK (e.g. SAC, SPA, SSSI). These gridded maps were then clipped to provide the pollutant values for each grid square including the area of the clipped grid. The resulting data was then queried to generate site statistics in the form of a minimum, maximum and area weighted average values for each of the pollutants.
For nitrogen and acid deposition values and ammonia concentrations, three year average pollutant maps were used at a resolution of 5 x 5 km from the CBED model for the years 2014-2016. For nitrogen dioxide and sulphur dioxide concentrations the 1 x 1 km PCM model was used based on the 3 year average (2014-2016). Deposition values are generated for specific habitat types (forest and semi-natural) to be used in critical load exceedance calculations.
This dataset is an update to the 2013-2015 dataset with the addition of concentration and deposition data for the year 2016, and removal of data for the year 2013, hence a new 3-year average 2014 to 2016. The full methodology is available in the contextual metadata which can be found attached to this record.
The work of APIS is jointly funded between the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology and the UK pollution and conservation agencies including Natural Resources Wales (NRW), the Environment Agency, Northern Ireland Environment Agency, Natural England, the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC), Scotland and Northern Ireland Forum for Environmental Research (SNIFFER), the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), and Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH).
Licensing and constraints
This dataset is made available under the terms of the Open Government Licence
Cite this dataset as:
Bealey, W.J.; Martin Hernandez, C.; Smith, R.I.; Stedman, J.R. (2018). Deposition and concentration values for protected sites in the UK (2014-2016). NERC Environmental Information Data Centre. https://doi.org/10.5285/735dd995-333c-4b02-8fb1-287b7b2cefdf
Copyright © UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Natural Resources Wales, Environment Agency, the Northern Ireland Environment Agency, Natural England, the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC), Scotland and Northern Ireland Forum for Environmental Research (SNIFFER), the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH)
Related
This dataset is included in the following collections
Supplemental information
APIS provides a comprehensive source of information on air pollution and the effects on habitats and species. Developed and hosted by the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (CEH), APIS is a support tool for staff in the UK conservation and regulatory agencies (e.g. SEPA, the Environment Agency, SNH, Natural England, Northern Ireland EA, and CCW), industry and local authorities for assessing the potential effects of air pollutants on habitats and species. As such, it aims to enable a consistent approach to air pollution assessment across the UK.
Correspondence/contact details
Bealey, W.J.
UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology
Bush Estate
Penicuik
Midlothian
EH26 0QB
UNITED KINGDOM
enquiries@ceh.ac.uk
Penicuik
Midlothian
EH26 0QB
UNITED KINGDOM
Authors
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3708-5864
Martin Hernandez, C.
Centre for Ecology & Hydrology
Smith, R.I.
Centre for Ecology & Hydrology
Stedman, J.R.
Ricardo Energy & Environment
Other contacts
Custodian
NERC EDS Environmental Information Data Centre
info@eidc.ac.uk
Publisher
NERC Environmental Information Data Centre
info@eidc.ac.uk
Additional metadata
Keywords
Last updated
03 June 2025 07:42