Latest news
A framework for UK research and evidence needs relating to air pollution impacts on ecosystems
The Statutory Nature Conservation bodies have published a framework for UK research and evidence needs relating to air pollution impacts on ecosystems. Evidence and research needs are organised into three high-level themes and linked to policy and operational drivers.
The Framework is designed to be shared and to help inform the work of others with similar interests and responsibilities. It aims to provide a structure to promote discussion on establishing agreed research priorities.
Updates to APIS
Over the last year we’ve been updating and improving APIS. We’ve updated and improved the Site Relevant Critical Loads tools to include new sites. This now includes data on pollutant concentrations at sites as well as site relevant critical levels for Ammonia, Sulphur Dioxide and Nitrogen Dioxide. We’ve also updated many of the pollutant/habitat records as well as the concentration/deposition datasets.
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Improved and Enhanced Version of SCAIL-Agriculture launched.
Simple Calculation of Ammonia Impact Limits (SCAIL) is a freely available online screening tool to estimate the effect of agricultural emissions on nearby protected areas (e.g. Sites of Special Scientific Interest) or human health.
The updated tool has been developed to evaluate the following emissions:
- Impact of NH3 emissions on protected sites;
- Impact of PM10 emissions on human health; and,
- Impact of odour emissions on nearby receptors.
The outputs from the tool will help the tool’s primary users (environmental regulators, planners, farmers, conservation bodies) make decisions on site development or permit application and the need for abatement measures or to identify whether further, more complex dispersion and deposition modelling is needed.
This project was commissioned by the UK environmental regulatory authorities and the Irish. Further information and the project report is available from Sniffer.
Report from the Nitrogen Deposition and the Nature Directives Workshop
JNCC have published the report of the “Nitrogen Deposition and the Nature Directives Workshop” held in December 2013 on behalf of the UK Government and Devolved Administrations.
The report provides an overview of the presentations and discussions concerning the two themes of the workshop:
Theme 1: Reporting and assessment of nitrogen deposition impacts; and
Theme 2: Knowledge sharing of practical solutions to reduce nitrogen deposition impacts
A series of accounts of the findings and recommendations of the workshop’s working groups is also provided in Appendices 1-7. The conclusions and recommendations from the workshop groups are also summarised.
The workshop background papers and presentations are available at http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/page-5954.
JNCC Air Pollution Bulletin
JNCC has recently published a new edition this newsletter, which provides an update on the air pollution work it undertakes together with the country conservation bodies.
http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/pdf/Air_pollution_bulletin2_2014.pdf