ICP Waters - Workplan and progress

Transcription

1 ICP Waters - Workplan and progress International Cooperative Programme on Assessment and Monitoring of Air Pollution Effects on Rivers and Lakes Gunnar Skotte Programme Chair Climate and Pollution Agency

2 ICP Waters: Programme aims Assess the degree and geographic extent of the impact of atmospheric pollution, in particular acidification, on surface waters Collect information to evaluate dose/response relationships Describe and evaluate long-term trends and variation in aquatic chemistry and biota attributable to atmospheric pollution

3 Network of sites with long-term data for trend analysis in Europe and North America Approx 200 sites in 18 countries 3

4 Participation Chemical data Biological data Participation in TF meetings Participating in chemical intercomparison Participating in biological intercalibration Armenia Austria 2012 Belarus 2011 Canada 2012 Croatia Czech Rep Estonia 2012 Finland 2012 France Germany 2012 Ireland 2012 Italy 2012 Latvia 2012 Montenegro 2012 Netherlands Norway 2012 Poland 2012 Russia Spain 2012 Sweden 2012 Switzerland 2012 UK 2011 USA 2012 Total ICP M&M Copenhagen April 2013

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6 Key messages from the TF meeting - I Biodiversity aquatic biodiversity is improving clear recovery of key species and communities of species in lakes and streams as a response to decreasing acidity in the water need for continued monitoring of biodiversity in acidimpacted waters recovering from chronic acid deposition Ecosystem services report on Ecosystem services for aquatic ecosystems Focal centres were asked to contribute with national examples to the report

7 Key messages from the TF meeting - II Nitrogen decreasing trends in aquatic nitrogen concentrations were reported from several countries explanations include changes in nitrogen deposition and climate change continued monitoring of water chemistry is essential to understand the fate of nitrogen in ecosystems. Sulphur several very good national examples of chemical and biological effects of reduced sulphur deposition since the 1970s, underlining the success of emission reduction measures.

8 Key messages from the TF meeting - III Dynamic modelling/critical loads empirical indicators of acidification status (presence/absence of fish) agree very well with modeled acidification status of acidsensitive lakes. Value of monitoring data was yet again proven. Modified after Hesthagen et al 2011

9 Key messages from the TF meeting - IV Cooperation between ICP Waters and LTER Europe The Task Force recognized the important work done by European Long-Term Ecosystem Research Network (LTER Europe; to support and sustain monitoring networks. Increased cooperation is expected to be of mutual interest. Focal centres were asked to consider possibilities to include their sites in the LTER network. The Task Force urged the Programme centre to continue its effort in including EECCA countries in the Programme

10 ICPW reports to be finished in 2013 and : Biodiversity changes effects of air pollution 2013: Ecosystem services of acid sensitive surface waters in Europe and North America 2014: Update of trends in surface water chemistry 2015: To be decided

11 1. How does ICP Waters plan to contribute to the requirements of the Convention in the future? Continue to support the needs for documentation under the various existing protocols Point to need for revisions of protocols or for making new protocols ICP Waters strength is the documentation of «ground truth» through our monitoring network of water chemistry and biota

12 2. What are the key science requirements that you see? Biological recovery from acidification of surface waters How long will it take? Will the biodiversity return to «old system» or will it be a permanent change in the communities? Effects of climate change on aquatic ecosystems How will climate change hamper recovery from acidification? How will it influence biodiversity? How will it alter uptake of POPs and metals in catchments and in the food webs? Effects of Nitrogen How will continued N-deposition affect aquatic ecosystems in the long term

13 3. Does the ICP Waters have the capacity to meet the needs? Yes - if: monitoring continues in particular continuation of the long term data series are essential we continue to have an active Task Force and Focal Centres the data and the involvement from the countries are the basis in ICPW work there is national and international research projects connected to the scientific questions in the Programme we continue to have good cooperation with the Dynamic Modelling-community

14 4. What changes might be needed to deliver the required science in the future? Ecosystems have been more complicated to study: we are closer to the CL for acidity, and thereby other factors such as climate change, introduction of new species and increased/changed land use etc are increasingly more important to understand the systems We therefore need: more cooperation and more data data on climate at a 25x25 km grid net climate parameters at monitoring sites More countries to participate A commitment from countries to support monitoring and focal center activities

15 Next ICP Waters Task Force meeting Cesky Krumlov, Czech Republic October 2013 Welcome