Long-term changes in atmospheric depositions in Slovakia

Abstract

The aim of this paper was to analyse temporal changes in chemism of atmospheric deposition in Slovakia. Two kinds of deposition, bulk and throughfall were considered and analysed for the period of 1996-2010. Data acquired from permanent monitoring plots (PMP) of Level II were used for this purpose. These plots were established as a part of the ICP Forests Programme. The changes in the composition of deposition were identified for the spruce and beech plots. The results were compared among three spruce plots, two beech plots and one mixed spruce-beech-fir plot. Precipitation pH was higher on the beech than on the spruce plots and during the spotted period increased on both spruce and beech plots. Depositions of cations decreased significantly on the spruce and beech plots in bulk deposition for all elements except for calcium. The significant decline of sulphur and ammonium nitrogen was found on both spruce and beech plots, but the highest decrease of sulphur deposition was found in throughfall precipitation (R 2 = 0.75). The amount of nitrate nitrogen did not change during the study period.

Subalpine vegetation changes in the Eastern Sudetes (1973–2021): Effects of abandonment, conservation management and avalanches

“…Although other studies of alpine grasslands (Evangelista et al, 2016;Gritsch et al, 2016) showed an increase in temperature indicator values, we found such an increase only for certain vegetation 1970s-1980s (Rodhe et al, 1995Hédl et al, 2011) and still receives high deposition of atmospheric nitrogen (Krupová et al, 2018). This is in contrast to some studies that have found impacts of temperature rise on alpine grasslands, especially on high mountain summits (Walther et al, 2005;Pauli et al, 2007;Steinbauer et al, 2018),…”

“…Although other studies of alpine grasslands (Evangelista et al, 2016;Gritsch et al, 2016) 1970s-1980s (Rodhe et al, 1995Hédl et al, 2011) and still receives high deposition of atmospheric nitrogen (Krupová et al, 2018). This is in contrast to some studies that have found impacts of temperature rise on alpine grasslands, especially on high mountain summits (Walther et al, 2005;Pauli et al, 2007;Steinbauer et al, 2018), or suggested impacts of atmospheric nitrogen deposition (Britton et al, 2009;McGovern et al, 2011;Ross et al, 2012).…”

“…This suggests that light‐demanding species are declining while grasslands are becoming denser. It is likely that the changes in grassland plant communities were not primarily caused by abiotic environmental changes such as temperature increase, eutrophication or acidification, although the area was subject to acidification from sulphur deposition in the 1970s–1980s (Rodhe et al, 1995; Hédl et al, 2011) and still receives high deposition of atmospheric nitrogen (Krupová et al, 2018). This is in contrast to some studies that have found impacts of temperature rise on alpine grasslands, especially on high mountain summits (Walther et al, 2005; Pauli et al, 2007; Steinbauer et al, 2018), or suggested impacts of atmospheric nitrogen deposition (Britton et al, 2009; McGovern et al, 2011; Ross et al, 2012).…”

Factors controlling Mn and Zn contents in leaves of silver and downy birch in acidified soils of Central Europe and Norway

“…The sampled areas in the border region between the Czech Republic, the Slovak Republic, and Austria faced different degrees of anthropogenic SOx and NOx emissions (Krupová et al 2018 ). In particular, the Beskid Mountains in the NE Czech Republic have experienced considerable recent anthropogenic impacts, as they have received significant industrial contamination and acid emissions primarily from the heavy industry in Silesia (Vácha et al 2015 ; Pavlů et al 2015 ; Matys Grygar et al 2023 ).…”

“…In particular, the Beskid Mountains in the NE Czech Republic have experienced considerable recent anthropogenic impacts, as they have received significant industrial contamination and acid emissions primarily from the heavy industry in Silesia (Vácha et al 2015 ; Pavlů et al 2015 ; Matys Grygar et al 2023 ). Generally, SOx and NOx emissions in the entire NE Czech Republic have been above average during the last decades (Krupová et al 2018 ), and the primary emission source for the Beskid study area was the coke, iron, and steel production in Třinec that was established in 1839 and expanded in the second half of the twentieth century. The emission loads from Třinec peaked in the 1960s (Fig.…”