The impact of nitrogen deposition on natural and semi-natural ecosystems [a two day workshop was held in Aberdeen, Scotland during September 1996 ; the origins of this book stem from that meeting

This book provides an up-to-date synthesis of the understanding of the interaction between the emission of nitrogen, its deposition and impact on the most important components of natural and semi-natural ecosystems. The work consists of contributions from internationally renowned research scientists. Individual chapters deal with the factors and processes related to nitrogen deposition and soils, non-forest vegetation communities, forest ecosystems, and surface waters. The assessment of these impacts is discussed in terms of setting critical loads. The book is aimed at researchers, advanced course students and policy makers/advisors involved with aspects of the impact of air pollution. Front Matter....Pages i-ix Nitrogen Deposition: Sources, Impacts and Responses in Natural and Semi-Natural Ecosystems....Pages 1-13 Spatial and Temporal Aspects of Nitrogen Deposition....Pages 15-50 The Role of Plant and Soil Processes in Determining the Fate of Atmospheric Nitrogen....Pages 51-84 The Impact of Atmospheric Nitrogen Deposition on Vegetation Processes in Terrestrial, Non-Forest Ecosystems....Pages 85-122 Factors Influencing Nitrogen Saturation in Forest Ecosystems: Advances in Our Understanding Since the Mid 1980s....Pages 123-152 The Impact of Atmospheric Nitrogen Deposition on the Behaviour of Nitrogen in Surface Waters....Pages 153-212 Derivation of Critical Loads by Steady-State and Dynamic Soil Models....Pages 213-234 Progress, Future Directions and Concluding Remarks....Pages 235-244 Back Matter....Pages 245-251 Anthropogenic emissions of sulphur and nitrogen compounds, principally derived from the burning of fossil fuels, have lead to regional changes in atmospheric and precipitation chemistry.