| title: | The interaction of forest and atmospheric fly ash influx |
|---|---|
| reg no: | ETF5002 |
| project type: | Estonian Science Foundation research grant |
| subject: |
1.4. Astronomy 1.11. Natural Geography (incl Meteorology, Geophysics) 4.3. Sylviculture, Forestry |
| status: | completed |
| institution: | Tartu Observatory |
| head of project: | Marko Kaasik |
| duration: | 01.01.2002 - 31.12.2004 |
| description: | The interaction between forest stands and fly ash pollution is reciprocal : (1) the fly ash affects the condition of trees through the air and soil and (2) the different aerodynamic roughness of the forested and open land induces the non-uniform distribution of ash particles in the landscape. The aim of this project is to clarify the regularities of this interaction. 1) The systematic differences of deposition of fly ash indicators (cations, anions, heavy metals, insoluble particles) in the landscapes of different surface roughness (flat open, flat forested, hilly) will be quantified, paying attention to the variability due to weather conditions. Based on gathered data, the dependence of the fly ash deposition flux on the landscape type will be found. 2) The relations between the oil shale fly ash deposition fluxes and wood increment in the forest stands growing on peaty soils will be found, applying the retrospective studies in the north-east of Estonia, especially during the peak level of alkaline pollution 1970 - 1990 as the main method and the air pollution transport modelling as the supporting method. The results are expected to enable the forecasting of the succession of forest condition, using the development scenarios of the oil-shale-based energy production. The results will be applied to upgrade the air pollution dispersion and deposition model AEROPOL in order to enable forecasting of fine territorial distribution of deposition fluxes of particles sized about 10 micrometers. The project will join the two research directions grown up from the solving of environmental problems in Estonia: (1) the mathematical modelling of air pollution and (2) the paleo-ecological studies. The synergetic effect will be achieved as result. The existing knowledge and the potential of young scientists and post-graduate students will be used more effectively. |
| project group | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| no | name | institution | position | |
| 1. | Tiiu Alliksaar | Institute of Ecology, TPU | Researcher | |
| 2. | Jüri Ivask | Institute of Geology, TTU | Researcher | |
| 3. | Marko Kaasik | Tartu Observatory | researcher | |
| 4. | Ülis Sõukand | University of Tartu | Ph.D.-student | |