APIS tools

Kinloch and Kyleakin HillsQuery by locationHabitat/Pollutant impactsPhytophophera damage (fungus) effecting Calluna vulgaris

The ‘Site Relevant Critical Loads’ tool provides critical loads for acidity and nitrogen for designated features within every SAC, SPA or A/SSSI in the UK. You can view an overview of each interest feature for each site.

The 'Search by Location' tool can be used to provide concentrations, deposition, and critical loads and levels at a particular location throughout the UK.

APIS provides pollution impact records for a variety of habitats, ecosystems and species. Each record contains information on key impacts including any crtiical loads or levels and a full reference list.

The 'Plant Effects Gallery' is an online photographic library of air pollution effects together with examples from clean sites.

Latest news

CCW Report : Impacts Of Additional Aerial Inputs Of Nitrogen To Salt Marsh And Transitional Habitats

The Countryside Council for Wales has published a report of atmospheric nitrogen impacts on saltmarsh habitats. CCW Science Report 995 is a review of the relative contributions of atmospheric and aqueous sources to UK salt marshes. The report provides advice on which end of the current nitrogen critical load range (20 - 30kgN/ha/year) to apply to different areas of saltmarsh when assessing nitrogen deposition impacts.

Post published: Thu, 17/05/2012 - 12:37

New Critical Load Function tool for acidity on APIS

critical load function toolCritical loads are used by the environment agencies, conservation agencies and others as benchmarks against which to assess the potential impacts of atmospheric deposition.  Deposition of sulphur and nitrogen compounds can contribute towards acidification and both should be taken into account when assessing potential acidification impacts.

We have now published a new tool on APIS to calculate exceedance of the acidity critical load function and for comparing nitrogen and/or sulphur deposition from a source to the critical load function.  The method has been agreed by the environment agencies and conservation agencies.

Post published: Wed, 04/04/2012 - 14:18

New look and data for UK’s Air Pollution Information System (APIS)

The UK’s leading web database on the impacts of air pollution on the natural environment, APIS, has been given a makeover – it’s now easier than ever to search for the information you want.

APIS is freely available and provides users with a one-stop-shop to evaluate the impact of air pollution on natural habitats. It is used by the UK’s air pollution regulators and local planning authorities to evaluate air pollution impacts as part of their consenting or permitting work.

The new, improved APIS also provides site specific data on nitrogen and acid deposition across the whole UK network of protected sites. Pollutant deposition and concentration data is available for all locations through a ‘search by location’ tool. Each Area/Site of Special Scientific Interest is now listed as well as the UK’s areas of European importance, which were previously available.

Post published: Thu, 09/02/2012 - 13:29

New study shows extensive impacts of nitrogen deposition across UK

JNCC has recently published an analysis of national vegetation data sets in relation to nitrogen deposition.  The study clearly demonstrated significant changes in the abundance of individual species and variables describing habitat structure and function as a result of N deposition.  This, together with previous evidence from surveys and experiments, provides clear evidence of impacts of N. 

Post published: Thu, 09/02/2012 - 13:24

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