Graph of the Day: Exceedance of Critical Eutrophication Loads by Nitrogen Deposition, 2010
Exceedance of critical loads for eutrophication by nitrogen deposition in 2010 under current European legislation (courtesy of CCE, 2008). Nitrogen deposition remains a threat to biodiversity across large areas of Europe (CCE, 2008). This concern is reflected in the incorporation of an indicator for nitrogen deposition under the Streamlining European Biodiversity Indicators 2010 (SEBI, 2010) programme (EEA, 2007), which helps measure progress towards the European target to halt the loss of biodiversity by 2010. Common assessment methods, such as critical loads, are already well established for use in European air pollution policy development. Critical load exceedance maps identify areas at risk from atmospheric nitrogen deposition. They show that a substantial area of semi-natural habitat in Europe exceeds the critical loads.
