Atmospheric nitrogen depositions to the Baltic Sea during 1995-2005
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Key message
The atmospheric deposition of nitrogen to the Baltic Sea has decreased by almost 20 % from 1990 to 2005.
Results and Assessment
Relevance of the indicator for describing the developments in the environment
This indicator shows the levels and trends in oxidized and reduced atmospheric nitrogen depositions to the Baltic Sea. The depositions of nitrogen compounds represent the pressure of emission sources on the Baltic Sea basin and catchment.
Policy relevance and policy reference
The HELCOM Ministerial Declaration of 1988 called for a 50 % reduction in discharges of nutrients to air and water by 1995 with 1987 as a base year. The 1992 Helsinki Convention and the 1998 Ministerial Declaration reaffirmed the need to further reduce discharges; leading to the adoption of several relevant Recommendations concerning measures to reduce emissions from point sources and diffuse sources. In 1990 HELCOM adopted its first Recommendation on Monitoring of Airborne Pollution Load (HELCOM Recommendation 11/1) which was later superseded by the Recommendations 14/1 and 24/1.
Assessment
Atmospheric deposition of oxidized and reduced nitrogen was computed with the latest version of the new unified model developed at MSC-W of EMEP. The latest available emission data for the HELCOM countries have been used in the model calculations.
The total deposition of nitrogen to the Baltic Sea in 2005 was 208 ktonnes compared to 214 ktonnes in 2004. The annual load varies across different parts of the Baltic Sea: from 300 mg/m2 N in the northern Gulf of Bothnia up to 1000 mg/m2 N in the Belt Sea.
Calculated annual oxidized, reduced and total nitrogen depositions to the entire Baltic Sea basin in the period 1995 – 2005 are shown, in per cent of 1995 value, in Figure 1.
Calculated annual total nitrogen depositions to the six sub-basins of the Baltic Sea in the period 1995 – 2005 are presented in Figure 2.
Mainly because of interannual changes in meteorology, there are large variations in temporal nitrogen depositions to the Baltic Sea and its sub-basins for the considered period. No significant trend can be detected in nitrogen annual deposition during the period 1995-2000, but there is a clear decline after the year 2000 with reductions of 17%, 13% and 15% in depositon of oxidized, reduced and total nitrogen, respectively, between 1995 and 2005.
Annual atmospheric nitrogen deposition into the Baltic Sea fluctuated at around 240 kt over the period 1995 – 2000 and around 220 kt during the period 2002 - 2005. The total deposition consisted of slightly more (10-20%) of oxidized than reduced nitrogen.
The five main contributors to the deposition of oxidized nitrogen to the Baltic Sea basin in 2005 were: Baltic Sea shipping (16 %), Germany (15 %), Poland (10 %), United Kingdom (9 %) and North Sea shipping (8 %). These five sources together contributed 58 % of the deposited oxidized nitrogen deposition to the Baltic Sea basin in 2005.
The five main contributors to the deposition of reduced nitrogen to the Baltic Sea basin in 2005 were: Germany (21 %), Poland (15 %), Denmark (12 %), Sweden (8 %) and Finland (6 %). These five sources (all being HELCOM countries) together contributed 62 % of the deposited reduced nitrogen deposition to the Baltic Sea basin in 2005.
The five main contributors to the deposition of total nitrogen to the Baltic Sea basin in 2005 were: Germany (18 %), Poland (12 %), Baltic Sea shipping (9 %), Denmark (8 %) and United Kingdom (6 %). These five sources together contributed 53 % of the deposited total nitrogen deposition to the Baltic Sea basin in 2005.
Figure 1. Atmospheric deposition of oxidized, reduced and total nitrogen to the entire Baltic Seabasin for the period 1995-2005, in per cent of 1995 value.
Figure 2. Atmospheric deposition of oxidized, reduced and total nitrogen to six sub-basins of the Baltic Sea for the period 1995 - 2005. Units: ktonnes N/year. Note: the scales for the sea regions are different! Click the image to enlarge!
Metadata
Technical information
1. Source: EMEP/MSC-W.
2. Description of data: The atmospheric depositions of oxidized and reduced nitrogen were calculated with the latest version of EMEP Unified model developed at EMEP/MSC-W in Oslo. The latest available official emission data for the HELCOM countries have been used in the model computations. Emissions of two nitrogen compounds for each year of this period were officially reported to the UN ECE Secretariat by several HELCOM Contracting Parties. Missing information was estimated by experts. Both official data and expert estimates were used for modelling atmospheric transport and deposition of nitrogen compounds to the Baltic Sea - http://webdab.emep.int/.
3. Geographical coverage: Atmospheric depositions of oxidized and reduced nitrogen were computed for the entire EMEP domain, which includes Baltic Sea basin and catchment.
4. Temporal coverage: Timeseries of annual atmospheric depositions are available for the period 1995 – 2005.
5. Methodology and frequency of data collection:
Atmospheric input and source allocation budgets of nitrogen (oxidized, reduced and total) to the Baltic Sea basins and catchments were computed using the latest version of EMEP Unified model. EMEP Unified model is a multipolutant, three-dimensional Eulerian model which takes into account processes of emission, advection, turbulent diffusion, chemical transformations, wet and dry depositions and inflow of pollutants into the model domain. Complete description of the model and its applications is available on the web http://www.emep.int.
Calculations of atmospheric transport and depositions of nitrogen compounds are performed annually two years in arrears on the basis of emission data officially submitted by Parties to CLRTAP Convention and expert estimates.
Quality information
6. Strength and weakness:
Strength: annually updated information on atmospheric input of oxidized and reduced nitrogen to the Baltic Sea and its sub-basins.
Weakness: gaps and uncertainties in officially submitted by countries time series of nitrogen emissions to air
7. Uncertainty:
The results of the EMEP Unified model are routinely compared with available measurements at EMEP and HELCOM stations. The comparison of calculated versus measured data indicates that the model predicts the observed air concentrations of oxidized and reduced nitrogen within the accuracy of approximatelly 30%.
8. Further work required:
Further work is required on reducing uncertainties in emission data and better parameterization of physical processes in the EMEP Unified model.
For reference purposes, please cite this indicator fact sheet as follows:
[Author’s name(s)], [Year]. [Indicator Fact Sheet title]. HELCOM Indicator Fact Sheets 2007. Online. [Date Viewed], http://www.helcom.fi/environment2/ifs/en_GB/cover/.
Last updated: 9.10.2007