Das Projekt "Estimation of willingness-to-pay to reduce risks of exposure to heavy metals and cost-benefit analysis for reducing heavy metals occurence in Europe (ESPREME)" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von Universität Stuttgart, Institut für Energiewirtschaft und Rationelle Energieanwendung durchgeführt. Heavy metals from different sources accumulate in the environment. From a policy point of view, it has been difficult to tackle the environmental problems due to heavy metals partly because the problem has been viewed from different policy domains (air, water, soils etc.). Thus, it is not guaranteed that the policy mix applied under environmental regulation is optimal. A systems analysis would be required to define the sources of heavy metals, how they are dispersed in the environment and which adverse effects they might cause on human and ecosystems health. From a policy point of view, it is also important to identify what kinds of policy responses would be most cost-effective to reduce the impacts of heavy metals. Such information is required for carrying out cost-benefit analyses of reducing the occurrence of heavy metals in our society. Identifying the benefits would include a monetary valuation of the impacts with contingent valuation (CV) approaches (e.g. assessing the willingness-to-pay, WTP). The focus of the work described will be on priority metals, which are mercury, cadmium, chrome, nickel, arsenic and lead. Core aim of the research is to carry out cost effectiveness (CEA) and cost-benefit analyses (CBA) for reducing the heavy metals occurrence, in the EU Member States and candidate countries, including damage assessment to the environment and human health in the long term following the impact pathway analysis which assesses the impacts and damages of pollutants from their emissions over their dispersion to exposure and impacts. Finally, a feasibility study will be conducted to identify the potentials, strengths and weaknesses and uncertainties of currently available macro-economic models to identify further research needs in this field.
Das Projekt "Impact of long-term exposure to elevated pCO2 on activity and populations of free living N2 fixing organisms in a temperate grassland system" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von Universität Hohenheim, Institut für Tropische Agrarwissenschaften (Hans-Ruthenberg-Institut), Fachgebiet Pflanzenbau in den Tropen und Subtropen (490e) durchgeführt. The project aims at achieving a better understanding of the processes that drive or limit the response of grassland systems in a world of increasing atmospheric pCO2. We will test the hypothesis that the previously shown increase in below-ground allocation of C under elevated pCO2 provides the necessary energy excess and will stimulate free-living N2 fixers in a low N grassland environment. The project thus aims at assessing the occurrence and importance of free-living N2 fixers under elevated pCO2 and identify the associated microbial communities involved in order to better understand ecosystems response and sustainability of grassland systems. This project had the last opportunity to obtain soil samples from a grassland ecosystem adapted to long-term (10 year) elevated atmospheric pCO2 as the Swiss FACE experiment. The project aims to identify the relevant components of free-living diazotrophs of the microbial community using 15N stable isotope - DNA probing.
Das Projekt "Field and laboratory studies of aerosol formation from halogenated precursor gases" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von Technische Universität Berlin, Institut für Technischen Umweltschutz durchgeführt. This project was part of the HaloProc research unit on natural halogenation processes, and explored the impact of reactive halogen species on aerosol formation in field and laboratory experiments. Field studies were focused on the Lake King salt lake area in Western Australia. New particle formation events were frequently observed and characterized by measuring the temporal evolution of the submicron aerosol size distributions, and collecting aerosol samples for subsequent chemical analysis. 9 out of 11 measurement days in 2013 showed secondary aerosol formation with particle growth rates from 2.9 to 25.4 nm h^-1. Raman spectroscopy and ultrahigh resolution mass spectrometry revealed a contribution of organohalogen compounds (mostly organochlorine) to the secondary organic aerosol, however, organosulfate and organonitrate formation seemed to play a larger role in the studied environment. Nevertheless, a new experimental approach that made use of a mobile Teflon chamber set up above the salt crust and the organic-rich mud layer of various salt lakes directly linked new particle formation to the hypersaline environment of Western Australia. For more detailed process studies, these field results provided realistic scenarios and constraints for simulation experiments in the laboratory. Salt lake conditions were successfully simulated in aerosol chamber experiments and showed secondary aerosol formation in the presence of light and organic precursor compounds. The particle formation dynamics and the chemical speciation of aerosol samples, which were collected from the chamber experiments and analyzed by Raman spectroscopy and mass spectrometry, indicated a coupling of aqueous phase chemistry and secondary aerosol formation. In particular, the Fe(II) concentrations of the simulated salt lakes were a key control for the intensity of new particle formation. In saline environments with low pH values and high solar radiation, Fe(II) might be converted to Fe(III) in the presence of organic matter in a Fenton-like reaction, which can act as a major source for highly reactive OH radicals in the aqueous phase. On the one hand, this expands the potential oxidation pathways for organic compounds, which led to a larger chemical diversity. On the other hand, Fe(II)-controlled aqueous phase chemistry competes with secondary aerosol formation in the gas phase, which led to reduced particle formation in our experiments. While it is premature to fully incorporate these findings in chemistry box models, additional laboratory studies provided experimental data that will guide the development of model parameterizations, e.g., for the organic aerosol yield from the oxidation of organic compounds by chlorine and bromine, or for reactive bromine loss due to uptake in secondary organic aerosol. In conclusion, this project bridged gaps between field studies of halogen-influenced new particle formation in the real world and laboratory experiments within the HaloProc research u
Das Projekt "Der Einfluss der SML auf die Spurengasbiogeochemie und den Ozean-Atmosphäre-Gasaustausch" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von Helmholtz-Zentrum für Ozeanforschung Kiel (GEOMAR), Forschungsbereich 2: Marine Biogeochemie durchgeführt. Labor- und Feldstudien zeigen, dass die Oberflächengrenzschicht des Ozeans (â€Ìsurface microlayerâ€Ì, kurz SML) die biogeochemischen Kreisläufe von klimaaktiven und atmosphärisch wichtigen Spurengasen wie Kohlenstoffdioxid (CO2), Kohlenstoffmonoxid (CO), Methan (CH4), Lachgas (N2O) und Dimethylsulfid (DMS) stark beeinflusst: (i) Jüngste Studien aus den PASSME- und SOPRAN-Projekten haben hervorgehoben, dass Anreicherungen von oberflächenaktiven Substanzen (d.h. Tensiden) einen starken (dämpfenden) Effekt sowohl auf die CO2- als auch auf die N2O-Flüsse über die SML/Atmosphären-Grenzfläche hinweg haben und (ii) Spurengase können durch (mikro)biologische oder (photo)chemische Prozesse in der SML produziert und verbraucht werden. Daher kann der oberste Teil des Ozeans, einschließlich der SML, verglichen mit dem Wasser, das in der Mischungsschicht unterhalb der SML zu finden ist, eine bedeutende Quelle oder Senke für diese Gase sein, was von sehr großer Relevanz für die Forschungseinheit BASS ist. Die Konzentrationen von CO2, N2O und anderen gelösten Gasen in der SML (oder den oberen Zentimetern des Ozeans) unterscheiden sich nachweislich von ihren Konzentrationen unterhalb der SML. Typischerweise werden die Nettoquellen und -senken wichtiger atmosphärischer Spurengase mit Konzentrationen berechnet, die in der Mischungsschicht gemessen wurden und mit Gasaustauschgeschwindigkeiten, die die SML nicht berücksichtigen. Diese Diskrepanzen führen zu falsch berechneten Austauschflüssen, die in der Folge zu großen Unsicherheiten in den Berechnungen der Klima-Antrieben und der Luftqualität in Erdsystemmodellen führen können. Durch die Verknüpfung unserer Spurengasmessungen mit Messungen von (i) der Dynamik und den molekularen Eigenschaften der organischen Materie und speziell des organischen Kohlenstoffs (SP1.1; SP1.5), (ii) der biologischen Diversität und der Stoffwechselaktivität (SP1.2), (iii) den optischen Eigenschaften der organischen Materie (SP1.3), (iv) der photochemischen Umwandlung der organischen Materie (SP1.4) und (v) den physikalischen Transportprozessen (SP2.3) werden wir ein umfassendes Verständnis darüber erlangen, wie die SML die Variabilität der Spurengasflüsse beeinflusst.
Das Projekt "Charakterisierung der mit Natriumpyrophosphat löslichen organischen Bodensusbstanz mittels FT-IR" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von Leibniz-Zentrum für Agrarlandschaftsforschung (ZALF) e.V., Institut für Bodenlandschaftsforschung durchgeführt. Zusammensetzung und Menge der organischen Bodensubstanz (OBS) werden durch die Landnutzungsform beeinflußt. Die OBS läßt sich nach ihrer Abbaubarkeit und nach ihrer Löslichkeit in verschiedene Pools einteilen. So kann die wasserlösliche organische Bodensubstanz (DOM) als Maßzahl für die abbaubare OBS herangezogen werden. Mit Natriumpyrophosphat-Lösung als Extraktionsmittel läßt sich ein weit größerer Anteil der OBS erfassen, da der stabilisierende Bindungsfaktor zwischen OBS und Bodenmineralen entfernt wird. Extrahiert man zuerst mit Wasser und anschließend mit Natriumpyrophosphat-Lösung, erhält man im letzten Schritt den schwer abbaubaren OBS-Anteil. Über die funktionelle Zusammensetzung der organischen Substanz dieser Pools und deren Abhängigkeit von Landnutzungsformen ist relativ wenig bekannt. Ziel der geplanten Untersuchung ist es, den Pool der löslichen abbaubaren und schwer abbaubaren OBS zu quantifizieren und deren funktionelle Zusammensetzung mittels FT-IR Spektroskopie zu erfassen. Die so gewonnenen Daten sollen der Validierung von Soil Organic Matter Turnover modellen (z.B. Roth 23.6) dienen und die im Modell berechneten Pools um einen qualitativen Term ergänzen. In Zusammenarbeit mit anderen Arbeitsgruppen sollen im DFG-Schwerpunktprogramm 1090: ;Böden als Quelle und Senke für CO2 die Pools der löslichen abbaubaren und schwer schwer löslichen, schwer abbaubaren organischen Bodensubstanz (OBS) quantifiziert, die funktionelle Zusammensetzung dieser Pools mittels FT-IR Spektroskopie erfasst und Abbaubarkeit der erhaltenen Extrakte überprüft werden, um Mechanismen, die zur Stabilisierung der OBS führen, aufzuklären.
Das Projekt "Steady-State Dilution and Mixing-Controlled Reactions in Three-Dimensional Heterogeneous Porous" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen, Zentrum für Angewandte Geowissenschaften (ZAG), Arbeitsgruppe Hydrogeology durchgeführt. Understanding transport of contaminants is fundamental for the management of groundwater re-sources and the implementation of remedial strategies. In particular, mixing processes in saturated porous media play a pivotal role in determining the fate and transport of chemicals released in the subsurface. In fact, many abiotic and biological reactions in contaminated aquifers are limited by the availability of reaction partners. Under steady-state flow and transport conditions, dissolved reactants come into contact only through transverse mixing. In homogeneous porous media, transverse mixing is determined by diffusion and pore-scale dispersion, while in heterogeneous formations these local mixing processes are enhanced. Recent studies investigated the enhancement of transverse mixing due to the presence of heterogeneities in two-dimensional systems. Here, mixing enhancement can solely be attributed to flow focusing within high-permeability inclusions. In the proposed work, we will investigate mixing processes in three dimensions using high-resolution laboratory bench-scale experiments and advanced modeling techniques. The objective of the proposed research is to quantitatively assess how 3-D heterogeneity and anisotropy of hydraulic conductivity affect mixing processes via (i) flow focusing and de-focusing, (ii) increase of the plume surface, (iii) twisting and intertwining of streamlines and (iv) compound-specific diffusive/dispersive properties of the solute species undergoing transport. The results of the experimental and modeling investigation will allow us to identify effective large-scale parameters useful for a correct description of conservative and reactive mixing at field scales allowing to explain discrepancies between field observations, bench-scale experiments and current stochastic theory.
Das Projekt "Appearance of decay in forest no longer mantained as assessed by visitors of a national park" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von Eidgenössische Forschungsanstalt für Wald, Schnee und Landschaft durchgeführt. A major concern for landscape conservation strategies is the public attitude towards nature in general and towards efforts to let nature return to the cultvated landscape. In this context we investigate the attitudes of national park visitors towards declining forest patches that shift from a pioneer stage to a more mature stage. It was shown that the phenomenon of decaying forests is perceived positively if the visitors are well-informed with on-site information of the underlaying natural processes.
Das Projekt "Mycorrhizal response and nutrient uptake of old, new and organically bred winter wheat cultivars in low input systems" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von Forschungsinstitut für Biologischen Landbau durchgeführt. The testing of crop cultivars on organic and conventional farms is often confounded by site heterogeneity. We compared the performance of a set of old, conventionally and organically bred winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars within the DOK long term trial in CH-Therwil in 2007. In the DOK trial organic and conventional farming systems are compared since 1978 in a split-split plot design with four replicates on a haplic luvisol. Yield (dry matter yield, thousand kernel weight, harvest index and nitrogen harvest index) and quality parameters (grain protein content, Hagberg falling number, Zeleny value, wet gluten content and gluten index) of ten cultivars were assessed in four systems: unfertilized control (NOFERT), bio-dynamic (BIODYN 1 and 2) and one conventional farming system (CONMIN) with different levels of total nitrogen inputs (0, 33, 66 and 140 kg ha-1, respectively). Effects of cultivars and systems on yield and quality parameters were statistically significant, genotype x system interactions were generally not detected. Grain yield increased from 2.7 (NOFERT), 3.7 (BIODYN 1), 4.2 (BIODYN 2) up to 6.8 t ha-1 for the conventional system CONMIN with an average protein content of 10.8, 9.4, 9.0 and 11.7%, respectively. No significant differences between cultivars were detected for yield in the organic system BIODYN 2, whereas in the conventional system CONMIN, cultivars bred under conventional conditions yielded significantly more than old cultivars. However, the protein content of old cultivars was significantly higher than that of modern cultivars. The results imply that breeding for yield was successful during the last century but only under high input conditions (7.6 kg ha-1 yr-1 in the conventional system CONMIN), where the development was accompanied by rising inputs of external resources (e.g. mineral fertilizers). Under organic conditions, yield increase with the year of release of cultivars was only 1.8 kg ha-1 yr-1 (in the organic system BIODYN 2) and modern cultivars could not outperform the old cultivars, irrespective of their selection environment. A redundancy analysis showed that yield was mainly determined by systems or the input of fertilizers, while the influence of cultivars was only minor. The redundancy analysis for baking quality parameters in contrast revealed that the influence of cultivars was higher than the influence of the systems. It is suggested, that long term system comparisons can ideally serve to test crop cultivars under identical soil and climatic conditions. Root colonization with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) was higher under organic than under conventional farming conditions but there was no evidence that breeding conditions were influencing AMF-root colonization of the different cultivars. We observed a positive correlation for AMF root colonization and shoot P at tillering and flowering under organic but not under conventional conditions. (abridged text)
Das Projekt "Novel innovative competitive effective tilt rotor integrated project (NICE-TRIP)" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von VERTAIR durchgeführt. Objective: This proposal has been prepared in the framework of a research and development roadmap defined by the European rotorcraft community that aims to develop a civil tilt-rotor aircraft. A key target of the road map is a flying demonstrator in the 2010 decade. NICETRIP specifically addresses the acquisition of new knowledge and technology validation concerning tilt-rotor. The main project objectives are: - To validate the European civil tilt-rotor concept based on the ERICA architecture; - To validate critical technologies and systems through the development, integration and testing of components of a tilt-rotor aircraft on full-scale dedicated rigs; - To acquire new knowledge on tilt-rotor through the development and testing of several wind tunnel models, including a large-scale full-span powered model; - To investigate and evaluate the introduction of tilt-rotors in the European Air Traffic Management System; - To assess the sustainability of the tilt-rotor product with respect to social and environmental issue s and to define the path towards a future tilt-rotor flying demonstrator. Project NICETRIP is fully relevant to the strategic objective 1.3.2.1: - Integration of technologies towards the future tilt-rotor aircraft, of the work programme of call 3 of the Thematic Priority Aeronautics and Space. The organisation and resources proposed to achieve the project objectives include a 54-month work plan made of 7 work packages and a consortium of 31 participants, fully representing the span of needed capabilities.
Das Projekt "SO2 IN AIR" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von Messer-Griesheim GmbH durchgeführt. Community Directive 80/779/EEC specifies maximum permissible levels of sulphur dioxide in the ambient air. Intercomparisons organized by DG XI in support of the implementation of this Directive have shown differences in excess of 10 percent between central laboratories and in excess of 30 percent between network monitors. The aim of the project was to improve the analytical technique and agreement between results. STATUS: In the first intercomparison the values obtained ranged from 78 to 94 nmol/mol. In the final stage the sampling procedure had been improved (dead volume minimised, length of sampling line minimised, sufficient equilibration time). All laboratories agreed to within a range of 4 nmol/mol. Prime Contractor: L'Air Liquide Belge, Schelle, BE.
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