Critical load/level linkages for interest features at UK protected sites
type: Dataset
citation: Bealey, W.J., Whitfield, C. (2017). Critical load/level linkages for interest features at UK protected sites. NERC Environmental Information Data Centre. (Dataset). https://doi.org/10.5285/c37cb567-6afc-4cf8-b0bc-8ec054346a6f
description: This dataset contains the linkages between designated features and their relevant critical loads or levels. The designated features come from the UK network of protected nature sites including: (i) Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) (ii) Special Protection Areas (SPA) (iii) Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) - England, Scotland, Wales (iv) Areas of Special Scientific Interest (ASSI) - Northern Ireland. Critical loads and levels are set under the auspices of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution. For nutrient nitrogen critical loads are based on empirical evidence, mainly observations from experiments and targeted gradient studies. These empirical critical loads are assigned to habitat classes of the European Nature Information System (EUNIS) to enable consistency of habitat terminology and understanding across Europe. In order to assign the relevant critical load to Annex I features, A/SSSI habitat features, or habitats of Annex II/SPA features, habitat correspondence tables are used to determine the relationship between the EUNIS classes for which nitrogen critical loads are set and the interest features. Critical loads of acidity are based on soil and habitat types. They are set for six Broad Habitats; acid grassland, calcareous grassland, dwarf shrub heath, bogs, montane, unmanaged coniferous and broadleaved woodland. Critical Levels for air pollutants are not habitat specific and have been set to cover broad vegetation types (e.g. forest arable, semi-natural), often with critical values set for sensitive lichens and bryophytes. They have been derived from experiments and observation that show varied effects on vegetation including visible injury symptoms of exposure and species composition changes in semi-natural vegetation.
date created: 2017-03-01
date published: 2017-08-21
keywords: natura 2000
keywords: nitrogen deposition
keywords: Pollution
keywords: critical level
keywords: critical load
keywords: deposition
keywords: ammonia
keywords: acid deposition
keywords: nitrogen dioxide
keywords: sulphur dioxide
creator: Bealey, W.J.
creator: Whitfield, C.
spatial coverage: bbox0
license: Open Government Licence v3
publisher: NERC EDS Environmental Information Data Centre
provider: NERC EDS Environmental Information Data Centre
included in data catalog: Environmental Information Data Centre

Pollution
type: DefinedTerm

critical level
type: DefinedTerm
in defined term set: https://www.eionet.europa.eu/gemet/

critical load
type: DefinedTerm
in defined term set: https://www.eionet.europa.eu/gemet/

deposition
type: DefinedTerm
in defined term set: https://www.eionet.europa.eu/gemet/

ammonia
type: DefinedTerm
in defined term set: https://www.eionet.europa.eu/gemet/

acid deposition
type: DefinedTerm
in defined term set: https://www.eionet.europa.eu/gemet/

nitrogen dioxide
type: DefinedTerm
in defined term set: https://www.eionet.europa.eu/gemet/

sulphur dioxide
type: DefinedTerm
in defined term set: https://www.eionet.europa.eu/gemet/

Environmental Information Data Centre
type: DataCatalog
alternate name: EIDC

NERC EDS Environmental Information Data Centre
type: Organization

Open Government Licence v3
type: CreativeWork
alternate name: OGL-UK-3.0

geoshape0
type: GeoShape
box: -8.648 49.864, 1.768 60.861

Bealey, W.J.
type: Person
family name: Bealey
given name: W.J.
affiliation: UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology

Whitfield, C.
type: Person
family name: Whitfield
given name: C.
affiliation: Joint Nature Conservation Committee

UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology
type: Organization