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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)

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.

Sustainable use of fruits of Bertholletia excelsa

Das Projekt "Sustainable use of fruits of Bertholletia excelsa" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von Universität Hamburg, Arbeitsbereich für Weltforstwirtschaft und Institut für Weltforstwirtschaft des Friedrich-Löffler-Institut, Bundesforschungsinstitut für Tiergesundheit durchgeführt. Objectives: Bertholletia excelsa Humb. and Bonpl. is one of the protected tree species of Amazonia in Brazil although classified as vulnerable acc. to IUCN. It is prohibited to fell trees and use their timber. However, the fruits, commonly known as Brazil nuts, can be harvested for local consumption and export. The objective of the project is to investigate a natural primary forest in Roraima, Brazil and assess the commercial potential for harvesting nuts, with special reference to international sustainability criteria. Although there has been no timber harvest in the forest in the past, nuts have been collected extensively by the local population - mainly for sale on the local markets. These activities were stopped in 2004. The research is closely connected to the natural forest management project. Results: Results are not yet available. However, preliminary data analyses reveal that - there is hardly any correlation between size of mother trees and available regeneration or available fruit mass located on the ground around those trees; - the amount of nuts per tree (approx. greater than 60 cm dbh) is very variable; - regeneration (seedlings and advanced growth) is sparse which makes long-term survival of the species questionable if collection of nuts in continued like in the past.

How is the stratospheric water vapour affected by climate change, and which processes are responsible? (SHARPI-WV)

Das Projekt "How is the stratospheric water vapour affected by climate change, and which processes are responsible? (SHARPI-WV)" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V. (DLR), Institut für Physik der Atmosphäre, Abteilung Dynamik der mittleren Atmosphäre durchgeführt. Observational data sets of water vapour (H2O) and HDO from MIPAS and H2O from SCIAMACHY will be extended and further improved in data quality. An 'all-satellite' data set containing data of SAGE, HALOE, SMR, MLS, MIPAS and SCIAMACHY and covering 30 years from 1984 to 2014 will be generated by appropriate data merging. The MIPAS and SCIAMACHY data record will be analysed regarding the anomalies of the time series (tape recorder, monsoon systems), potential trends, and correlations to other atmospheric quantities like tropical tropopause temperature, with some focus on the HDO data record. Similar analysis will be performed with improved transient and sensitivity model runs available within SHARP. H2O modelling will be included in the Lagrangian version of EMAC, and case process studies will be performed to analyse the H2O transport into the stratosphere. The modelled H2O fields will be compared to H2O data sets made available from MIPAS. For ECHAM5/MESSy, a higher resolved version not producing the cold and dry bias in the tropopause will be sought for. The CMIP5 simulations of MPI-M will be analysed regarding water vapour, and internal variability will be compared to climate change signals. The role of methane for the stratospheric water vapour budget will be re-assessed in the light of recent changes in methane growth, both from the observational and model data side.

Modelling the impact of global warming on the trophic state of the upper ocean

Das Projekt "Modelling the impact of global warming on the trophic state of the upper ocean" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von Helmholtz-Zentrum für Ozeanforschung Kiel (GEOMAR) durchgeführt. The main aim of the proposed research is a quantitative evaluation of the potential impact of global warming on the trophic balance of the upper ocean. Primary production, as well as autotrophic and heterotrophic respiration are all expected to increase with temperature, and a number of experimental culture studies suggest that the increase with temperature is more pronounced for respiration than for production. This notion has been further confirmed on the ecosystem level in recent short-term mesocosm studies. According to these results, an expected direct effect of global warming is a weakening of the biological carbon pump. In contrast to indirect effects arising from changes in circulation and stratification, such a direct temperature effect has not yet been investigated quantitatively on a global scale. Using an Earth System Model of intermediate complexity, the proposed study will investigate the sensitivity of the model's biological pump to different parameterisations of temperature effects on autotrophic and heterotrophic processes, each calibrated by available experimental data from culture and mesocosm studies. The ability of different parameterisations to closely reproduce regional patterns of biogeochemical tracer distributions will first be evaluated for pre-industrial steady-state solutions. In a second step, the model will be forced with IPCC-type CO2 emission scenarios over the 21st century in order to estimate the impact of direct temperature effects on the marine biota relative to indirect effects via changes in circulation and stratification.

A census of viruses through the drinking water cycle

Das Projekt "A census of viruses through the drinking water cycle" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Charité Mitte (CCM), Institut für Virologie durchgeführt. Waterbome viruses have a high but so far underestimated public health significance. In water monitoring and surveillance regulations, virus detection is until now not mandatory. This is reflected in the methodological repertoire available. To date, methods for detecting the various types of viruses in different types of waters (waste water, surface water, groundwater, drinking water) are insufficiently sensitive. Some of the most important waterborne viruses like noroviruses can only be detected by PCR methods. In the case of waterborne virus outbreaks, underlying circumstances and causes frequently cannot be clarified in the absence of reliable detection methodology. The same would apply to acts of biological crime or terrorism. It is thus of utmost importance to further develop methods for sensitive and reliable virus detection in different types of waters which are technically easy to accomplish in a short time, provide a sufficient concentration of a large range of viruses in a mall volume, have a high virus recovery rate, will not be too costly, and will deliver reproducible results. In this proposal methods for concentrating large volumes of water by which a large spectrum of viruses can be simultaneously detected in water samples will be developed in cooperation with individual project partners. After successful development and testing in the lab, the methods will be evaluated for its use in different waters and water treatment steps for quantitative and qualitative virus analysis.

AIR4EU: Air Quality Assessment for Europe - from Local to Continental Scale

Das Projekt "AIR4EU: Air Quality Assessment for Europe - from Local to Continental Scale" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von Universität Stuttgart, Institut für Energiewirtschaft und Rationelle Energieanwendung durchgeführt. AIR4EU addresses the needs for policy-orientated research on integrated air quality (AQ) assessment by monitoring methods and modelling at different temporal and spatial scales for regulated components in Europe: PM10 (and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2, O3 and benzene. Policy support on AQ assessment has been recognised a priority issue within the 'Clean Air for Europe-CAFE' programme. There are a wide variety of AQ assessment methods based upon monitoring and modelling, but these methods depend on the spatial and temporal scales, and are often not or only partially compatible. Consequently, there is a need for scientific sound and practical recommendations on how to integrate monitoring and modelling methods into internally consistent, comprehensive and cost-effective assessment methods. The aim of AIR4EU is to provide recommendations on AQ assessment for different temporal and spatial scales: ranging from hourly to annual and from 'hotspot'/street to continental scale. Case studies are implemented with partners in Paris, Berlin, Prague, London, Athens, Rotterdam and Oslo, to test and further develop the recommendations. AIR4EU will also prepare AQ maps at different scales in Europe based upon available data sets (monitoring, meteorology and emissions) and the recommended methods. The cooperation of European top-scientists from six member states representing four universities, two research institutes and eight user-partners will support the establishment of the European Research Area. AIR4EU will co-operate with on-going relevant projects (e.g. ENV-e-CITY; OSCAR; CLEAR; MERLIN) and networks (e.g. INTEGAIRE, CITY-Delta; POLIS), and specific liaison will be established with the CAFE programme. AIR4EU will disseminate its results by a Website and through Newsletters and Workshops to the scientific community, environmental authorities, policy makers and other stakeholders in AQ in Europe. Prime Contractor: Nederlandse Organisatie voor Toegepast Natuurwetenschappelijk Onderzoek - TNO; Delft; Netherlands.

Tools for Sustainabiltity Impact Assessment of the Forestry- Wood Chain

Das Projekt "Tools for Sustainabiltity Impact Assessment of the Forestry- Wood Chain" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von Universität Hamburg, Department für Biologie, Zentrum Holzwirtschaft des Johann Heinrich von Thünen-Institut, Bundesforschungsinstitut für Ländliche Räume, Wald und Fischerei durchgeführt. The objective of EFORWOOD is to develop a quantitative decision support tool for Sustainability Impact Assessment of the European Forestry-Wood Chain (FWC) and subsets thereof (e.g. regional), covering forestry, industrial manufacturing, consumption and recycling. The objective will be achieved by:a) defining economic, environmental and social sustainability indicators ,b) developing a tool for Sustainability Impact Assessment by integrating a set of models ,c) supplying the tool with real data, aggregated as needed and appropriate,d) testing the tool in a stepwise procedure allowing adjustments to be made according to the experiences gained,e) applying the tool to assess the sustainability of the present European FWC (and subsets thereof) as well the impacts of potential major changes based on scenarios,f) making the adapted versions of the tool available to stakeholder groupings (industrial, political and others).The multi-functionality of the FWC is taken into account by using indicators to assess the sustainability of production processes and by including in the analysis the various products and services of the FWC. Wide stakeholder consultations will be used throughout the process to reach the objective. EFORWOOD will contribute to EU policies connected to the FWC, especially to the Sustainable Development Strategy. It will provide policy-makers, forest owners, the related industries and other stakeholders with a tool to strengthen the forest-based sector's contribution towards a more sustainable Europe, thereby also improving its competitiveness. To achieve this, EFORWOOD gathers a consortium of highest-class experts, including the most representative forest-based sector confederations.EFORWOOD addresses with a high degree of relevance the objectives set out in the 3rd call for proposals addressing Thematic Sub-priority 1.1.6.3 Global Change and Ecosystems, topic V.2.1. Forestry/wood chain for Sustainable Development. Prime Contractor: Stiftelsen Skogsbrukets Forskningsinstitut, Skogforsk; Uppsala; Sweden.

Integrating Cloud Observations from Ground and Space - a Way to Combine Time and Space Information (ICOS)

Das Projekt "Integrating Cloud Observations from Ground and Space - a Way to Combine Time and Space Information (ICOS)" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von Universität Köln, Institut für Geophysik und Meteorologie, Bereich Meteorologie, Arbeitsgruppe Integrierte Fernerkundung durchgeführt. Cloud processes remain one of the largest challenges in atmospheric research partly due to a gap in statistically significant observations of cloud macro- and microphysical properties. The most detailed and continuous observations available today come from the combination of state-of-the-art ground-based sensors at a few 'super sites' worldwide. The integrated profiling technique (IPT) developed by the proposers has been established to provide cloud liquid water (LWC) profiles with their error and the associated environmental conditions (temperature, humidity) from a combination of microwave radiometer, cloud radar and ceilometer. Here we propose to extend this method by incorporating satellite observations by Meteosat SEVIRI into the IPT optimal estimation framework for the additional retrieval of cloud microphysics (effective radius, optical thickness) and cloud radiation budget. In addition SEVIRI measurements will be exploited to provide auxiliary information on a) the history of the cloud observed at the super site (lifetime, microphysical development, environment) and b) the representativeness of the cloud for the cloud field around the site. The method will be developed on the basis of existing data sets from observation sites at Cabauw, Lindenberg and AMF/Murg Valley.

Solar and Wind Energy Resource Assessment (SWERA)

Das Projekt "Solar and Wind Energy Resource Assessment (SWERA)" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt, Institut für Technische Thermodynamik, Abteilung Systemanalyse und Technikbewertung durchgeführt. The project SWERA will provide solar and wind resource data and geographic information assessment tools to public and private sector executives who are involved in energy market development. It will demonstrate the use of these instruments in investment and policy decision making and build local capacities for their continuous use. The project will enable private investors and public policy makers to assess the technical, economic and environmental potential for large-scale investments in technologies that enable the exploitation of two increasingly important sources of renewable energy. During this pilot project, tools for analysis and use of resource information will be developed, a global archive and review mechanism will be initiated, regional/national solar and wind resource maps generated and national assessment demonstrations performed. The overall goal is to promote the integration of wind and solar alternatives in national and regional energy planning and sector restructuring as well as related policy making. The project will enable informed decision making and enhance the ability of participating governments to attract increased investor interest in renewable energy. Thirteen countries will be directly involved in the pilot stage of the project. Global and regional maps will be available to all developing countries. The German Aerospace Center (DLR) will provide high resolution solar maps of the Direct Normal Irradiation. This is particularly important for concentrating solar power collectors. DLR will work with SUNY and INPE/LABSOLAR to integrate their high-resolution horizontal total radiation model. DLR and TERI will jointly execute the South Asian mapping using INSAT and METEOSAT-5 data. DLR will provide advice to national executing agencies and stakeholders on their activities and assist in the comparison of measurements and different mapping models.

Einflüsse von Schnee auf Antarktisches Meereis - Fernerkundung (SCASI-RS)

Das Projekt "Einflüsse von Schnee auf Antarktisches Meereis - Fernerkundung (SCASI-RS)" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von Universität Hamburg, Fachbereich Geowissenschaften, Institut für Meereskunde durchgeführt. Antarktisches Meereis ist üblicherweise mit Schnee bedeckt, folglich bestimmen die Eigenschaften von Schnee die Oberflächeneigenschaften vom Eis und beeinflussen die Wechselwirkungen zwischen Atmosphäre und Ozean. Die Bildung von Schnee-Eis ist ein weitverbreitetes Phänomen in der Antarktis und trägt maßgeblich zur Eismassenbilanz bei, weit häufiger als in der Arktis. Wissen über die Schneedicke und -dichte wird auch für die Eisdickenbestimmung aus Altimetermessungen benötigt. Bisher stützt sich unser Wissen über Schnee auf antarktischem Meereis hauptsächlich auf einzelne Feldmessungen und Schiffsbeobachtungen. Schneedicke kann aber auch mithilfe von passiven Mikrowellensatelliten (bei Frequenzen von 19 und 37GHz) bestimmt werden, wobei die Validierung und Fehlerquellenbestimmung noch Gegenstand aktueller Forschung sind.In dem Projekt zum Einfluss von Schnee auf antarktisches Meereis (SCASI) versuchen wir den Schnee und seine Verteilung zu quantifizieren sowie die Eigenschaften und die zeitliche Entwicklung darzustellen. Das übergeordnete Ziel ist die Erstellung eines neuen und konsistenten Schneedatensatzes, der unterschiedliche räumliche und zeitliche Skalen umfasst. Um dies zu erreichen und die verschiedenen Skalen von Punkt- bis hin zu Satellitenmessungen zu überbrücken, verbinden wir Feldmessungen und Satellitenfernerkundung mit numerischen Modellen. Ein weitverbreitetes und bewährtes Schneemodel zur Modellierung von alpinem Schnee ist das eindimensionale SNOWPACK Model. Das SCASI Projekt bringt Partner aus der Schweiz und aus Deutschland zusammen um eine Meereis-Version von SNOWPACK weiterzuentwickeln und mit Feld- und Bojenmessungen sowie mit Satellitenbeobachtungen von passiven Mikrowellen zu kombinieren. Das hier vorgestellte Vorhaben (SCASI-RS) bezieht sich auf den Fernerkundungsteil des SCASI Projekts. Durch den Vergleich von SNOWPACK Simulationen mit Feldmessungen können wir für die Satellitenvalidation gut geeignete Fälle identifizieren. Indem wir SNOWPACK mit Emissionsmodellen zusammenbringen, können wir zudem Mikrowellenstrahlung modellieren und den Einfluss von Schnee-Eigenschaften auf die Schneedickenbestimmung untersuchen. Im SCASI-RS Projekt werden wir dies nicht nur für die 19 und 37GHz Frequenzen tun, die bisher zur Schneedickenbestimmung verwendet wurden, sondern auch für eine niedrigere Frequenz (1.4GHz). Globale Messungen bei 1.4GHz gibt es seit 2009 und diese sind zur Schneedickenbestimmung in der Arktis vorgeschlagen worden. Auf Grund der unterschiedlichen Bedingungen können die Ergebnisse aber evtl. nicht einfach auf Antarktische Gebiete übertragen werden.Das resultierende Produkt wird nicht nur für Meereis- und Strahlungsmodelle nützlich sein, sondern auch für die altimeter-basierte Eisdickenbestimmung und andere Forschungsgebiete, die Informationen über Schnee auf Meereis benötigen, zum Beispiel hinsichtlich der biologischen Produktion oder geo-chemischer Prozesse.

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