NETWORK FOR FOREST ECOSYSTEM DATA IN NORWEGIAN-RUSSIAN BORDER AREA

Participants Current state Main objectives Present activity Results Conclusions Publications Links Contacts

NATO International Scientific Exchange Programmes LINKAGE Grants ENVIR.LG 960348 1 July 1996 - 30 December 1998

• Participants:

  
  

  Prof., Dr. L. Strand	Norwegian Forest Research Institute
  Prof., Dr. K. Venn	Norwegian Forest Research Institute
  Dr. S. Koptsik	Moscow State University, Physics Faculty
  Prof., Dr. A. Vladichenskiy	Moscow State University, Soil Science Faculty
  Dr. G. Koptsik	Moscow State University, Soil Science Faculty
  M.Sc. M. Zhuravleva	Moscow State University, Soil Science Faculty
  	For addresses of contact persons see below

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• Current state-of-the-art

  The atmospheric emissions from nickel-processing industry in Nickel and Zapolyarnyy, situated not far from the Norwegian border are the major cause of environmental pollution in this region. Areas in Eastern Finnmark, South Varanger are also strongly affected. The boreal forests of the Northern Finnmark-Kola are among the northernmost coniferous forests of the world. Under the prevailing extreme growth conditions, when trees and vegetation are under strong natural stress, it can be presumed that even minor loads of air pollutants may have severe effects upon forest vitality.

  Since 1989 joint environmental investigations have been carried out in surroundings of "Pechenganickel" smelter according to the international agreement signed by the governments of Norway and Russia (see also soil.msu.ru/projects/norway/). Due to these investigations permanent monitoring plots for long-term observations of the environmental changes were set up on both sides of the Norwegian-Russian border (for map see below). Preliminary evaluation of forest ecosystems' state near the smelter was made, the monitoring methodology for polluted areas was developed, and critical loads of acid deposition were assessed (see also soil.msu.ru/projects/acidification/). The obtained results were discussed on 2 joint symposiums and were published in proceedings of these symposiums (see soil.msu.ru/projects/norway/). However the quantitative estimation of forest ecosystem contamination in the Norwegian-Russian border area was still far from completion; long-term response of forest ecosystems to acid deposition and heavy metals was unknown, and model calculations of critical loads of air pollutants were infrequent for this territory.

  The research need will benefit from strong scientific links between Norwegian and Russian teams through undertaking of joint research project on effects of atmospheric pollution on forest ecosystems in the Norwegian-Russian border area in order to contribute to the basis for pollution control measures. The intention is to reveal the tolerance towards air pollutants of the forest ecosystems in this fragile boreal environment.
  
  
  
  
  

• Main objectives

  1. to build and develop the database on forest ecosystem state in the Norwegian-Russian border area;
  2. to estimate and to map the critical loads of acid deposition and heavy metals for forest soils in the study area;
  3. to enhance the long-term networking capability of participating organization.

  To perform these tasks, the experimental data, map and literature information will be collected on both sides of the common border. Data and information will be exchanged by use of the novel computer network financed by a NATO grant. Furthermore, the database on environmental data on forest ecosystems in the study area will be built up and developed using all acceptable information.
  
  
  
  
  

• Present activity

  x	Analysis of the situation
  x	Planning future activity
  .	Collection of data needed
  .	Analysis of data
  .	Synthesis - model construction

  The present project dealt with the first two phases.

  An important point was to find out if the data, e.g., soil data, are compatible or not, and what was to be done in order to bring them compatible. Next step was to determine if more data were needed and how they were to be collected and analysed.
  
  
  
  
  

• Results

  • Map of the study area

    
    
    
    
  • General structure of the database on forest ecosystem data in the Norwegian-Russian border area

    Plot number

    General information

    Precipitation & deposition chemistry

    Vegetation

    Soils

    Plot number

    Precipitation

    Total deposition

    Forest vitality

    Plant chemistry

    Soil chemistry

    Texture

    Mineralogy

    Bulk total deposition

    Throughfall deposition

    Trees

    Ground vegetation

    Total elements (organic soils)

    Exchangeable cations

    organic

    mineral

    Norway

    PA

    X

    X

    X

    X

    X

    X

    X

    X

    X

    X

    -

    -

    PA

    PB

    X

    X

    X

    X

    X

    X

    X

    X

    X

    X

    -

    -

    PB

    PC

    X

    X

    X

    X

    X

    X

    X

    X

    X

    X

    -

    -

    PC

    PD

    X

    X

    X

    X

    X

    X

    X

    X

    X

    X

    -

    -

    PD

    PE

    X

    X

    X

    X

    X

    X

    X

    -

    -

    -

    -

    -

    PE

    37

    X

    -

    -

    -

    X

    X

    -

    X

    X

    X

    X

    X

    37

    52

    X

    -

    -

    -

    X

    X

    -

    X

    X

    X

    X

    X

    52

    206

    X

    -

    -

    -

    X

    X

    -

    X

    X

    X

    X

    X

    206

    Russia

    S-66

    X

    -

    -

    -

    -

    -

    -

    X

    X

    X

    X

    X

    S-66

    S-41

    X

    -

    -

    -

    -

    X

    X

    X

    X

    X

    X

    X

    S-41

    S-34

    X

    -

    -

    -

    -

    -

    -

    X

    X

    X

    X

    X

    S-34

    S-16

    X

    -

    -

    -

    -

    X

    -

    X

    -

    X

    X

    X

    S-16

    S-8

    X

    -

    -

    -

    -

    X

    -

    X

    -

    X

    X

    X

    S-8

    S-3.5

    X

    -

    -

    -

    -

    X

    -

    X

    -

    X

    -

    -

    S-3.5

    S-1

    X

    -

    -

    -

    -

    X

    -

    X

    -

    X

    -

    -

    S-1

    N-8.5

    X

    -

    -

    -

    -

    -

    -

    -

    X

    X

    X

    X

    N-8.5

    
    
    
    

  • Parameters of the database
    • General information

    Sample plot location	Coordinates	Parameters
    Location	Latitude	Relief position
    Name of the plot	Longitude	Parent rock
    Direction from smelter		Texture
    Distance from smelter		Soil type
    		Forest type
    		Ground vegetation

    • Amount of precipitation and deposition chemistry

    Bulk total deposition		Throughfall
    Volume	Ca	Volume	Ca
    pH	Mg	pH	Mg
    H+	K	H+	K
    S total	Na	S total	Na
    S-SO4	Al	S-SO4	Al
    N total	Fe	N total	Fe
    N-NO3	Mn	N-NO3	Mn
    N-NH4	Ni	N-NH4	Ni
    P	Cu	P	Cu
    Cl	Zn	Cl	Zn

    • Plant chemistry

    Total elements
    S	K	Fe	Cu
    P	Na	Mn	Ni
    Ca	Si	Cd	Pb
    Mg	Al	Co	Zn

    • Soils

    Morphology	Particle size distribution	Mineralogy
    Horizon	>2 mm	Quartz
    Thickness	2-1	Plagioclase
    Litter supply	1- 0.5	K-feldspar
    Soil bulk density	0.5-0.25	Hornblende
    	0.25-0.125	Chlorite
    	0.125-0.063	Biotite
    	0.063-0.002	Vermiculite
    	< 0.002	Garnet

    Total elements
    Loss of ignition	Ca	Al	Co
    C	Mg	Fe	Cu
    N	K	Mn	Ni
    S	Na	As	Pb
    P	Si	Cd	Zn

    Acidity and exchangeable cations
    Soil pHH2O	Ca	Fe	Cu
    Soil pHCaCl2	Mg	Mn	Ni
    Exchangeable acidity	K	Cd	Zn
    Al	Na	Co	CEC
    	SBC		Base saturation

  
  
  
  
  
  

• Conclusions

  The new built up database on forest ecosystem data for permanent monitoring plots was used for analysis of soil chemical state in forest ecosystems subjected to airborne pollution in the fragile boreal environment in the Norwegian-Russian border area. Multivariate technique was applied to investigate profile and spatial distribution of soil properties, to identify and quantify most important relationships, and to present soil data in the concise graphical form near the major pollution source in the northern Europe.

  Soil organic horizons have been shown to serve as good indicators of heavy metal pollution of forest soils. Analysis showed that both natural and antropogenic factors effected the chemistry of surface organic horizons in the prevailing in the region sandy podzols. Soils close to the smelters contained elevated concentrations of both total and exchangeable Ni and Cu in organic horizons, higher for 1-2 orders of magnitude compared to remote sites. In heavily polluted soils, heavy metals reached one quarter of the soil cation exchange capacity.

  Thin sandy podzols with low pH, elevated exchangeable acidity, low pool of exchangeable base cations and low cation exchange capacity were sensitive to acid deposition on both sides of the common border. Study of spatial differences between the podzol profiles showed that acidity and exchangeable properties of the topmost soil organic layer were affected mostly by atmospheric deposition and vegetation. Chemistry of mineral soil was controlled by the lithology of the parent rock and bedrock, soil texture and mineralogy, abundance of organic matter and podzolization process.

  There was no evidence for strong soil acidification effects close to the smelter. This may be due to geological features of the territory and to the alkaline dust deposition near the pollution source. Concentrations of exchangeable Ca²⁺ and base saturation increased, while acidity decreased in lower soil mineral horizons towards the smelter. However some features seem to reflect the ongoing soil acidification in the study area within 30-40 km from the pollution source.

  The acidification front depth exceeded 0.5 m in most soil profiles there. Exchangeable Mg²⁺ and K⁺ in organic horizons tended to be lower towards the smelter. Negative correlation of exchangeable acidity with Ca²⁺ in organic horizons and positive correlation with Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ in eluvial horizons demonstrated possible replacement, enlarged mobility and leaching of Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ in acid conditions. Depletion of base cations was most likely the result of their replacement by H⁺, Al³⁺ and heavy metal cations and subsequent leaching. Due to the low pool of exchangeable base cations and low weathering rate continued acid deposition can lead to increased soil acidification and nutrient imbalance.
  
  
  

  It is likely that more information could have been obtained from the database if the measurements had been made according to a stricter scheme. Traditional analytical routine does not include the measurements of exchangeable Ni and Cu important for the studied polluted area in thus restricting the data set. Therefore, a coordinated set of parameters as well as the same sampling and analytical procedures would be of great importance in future data collection.
  
  
  
  
  

• Publications

  Following is a record of publications prepared on the project topic, listed with the most recent contribution first.

  In press:

  • Koptsik, G., Koptsik, S., Venn, K., Aamlid, D., Strand, L., Zhuravleva, M. Changes in acidity and cation exchangeable properties of forest soils under atmospheric acid deposition. Pochvovedenie (In Russian).
  • Koptsik, S., Koptsik, G., Strand, L., Venn, K., Aamlid, D. Multivariate analysis of acidity and cation exchangeable properties of forest soils in conditions of atmospheric acid deposition. Pochvovedenie (In Russian).
  • Koptsik S., Koptsik G. Multivariate statistical analysis of forest litter response to air pollution. Ecologiya (In Russian).
  • Koptsik G., Koptsik S., Zhuravleva M. Changes in chemical state of forest litter under air pollution impact. Lesovedenie (In Russian).
  • Koptsik, G., Koptsik, S., Aamlid, D. Transformation of plant element composition in northern taiga forest ecosystems under air pollution impact. Vestnik of Moscow State University, Soil Science (In Russian).

  Papers:

  • Koptsik, G., Koptsik, S., Gorlenko, O. 1999. Prediction of long-term response of forest soils to atmospheric acid deposition with the SMART model. Pochvovedenie. No 2 (In Russian).
  • Koptsik, G., Nedbaev, N., Koptsik, S., Pavlyuk, I. 1998. Heavy metal pollution of forest soils by atmospheric emissions of Pechenganikel smelter. Eurasian Soil Science 31 (8): 896-903.
    Translated from Pochvovedenie, 1998, N 8, pp. 988-995.
  • Koptsik, S., Zhuravleva, M. 1998. Multivariate analysis of space variability in soil chemical properties. CD Proceedings of 16 World Congress of Soil Science. Montpellier, France. 20-26.08.1998. 7+1 p. (\bdd\symp17\2392-t.pdf and \bdd\symp17\2392-r.pdf).
  • Koptsik, S. 1997. Simulation of acid snow and rain impact on forest soils in the Kola Peninsula, north-western Russia. Proceedings of International Congress of Acid Snow and Rain 1997. Niigata, Japan, October 6-8, 1997. P. 404-409.

  Abstracts:

  • Koptsik, S., Koptsik, G. 1998. Quantitative assessment of surface soil pollution patterns in boreal forest ecosystems. In: Environmental Forest Science. Extended Abstract Volume of IUFRO Division 8 Conference Proceedings. 19-23 October 1998. Kyoto, Japan. P. 57-58.
  • Koptsik, G., Aamlid, D. and Koptsik, S. 1997. Soil organic horizon as indicator of forest ecosystem pollution near nickel smelter. In: Fourth International Conference on the Biogeochemistry of Trace Elements. June 23-26, 1997. Berkeley, California, USA. P. 367-368.
  • Koptsik, S., Koptsik, G. 1997. Model assessment and prediction of soil acidification in the Kola Subarctic, Russia. In: The AMAP International Symposium on Environmental Pollution in the Arctic. Extended abstract. TromsЬ, Norway, June 1-5, 1997. P. 317-318.
  
  
  
  
  
  

• Links:

  Soil Science Faculty, Moscow State University, Russia	soil.msu.ru/projects/acidification/ soil.msu.ru/projects/norway/
  Norwegian Forest Research Institute, Norway	www.skogforsk.no
  Norwegian University of Life Sciences	www.nlh.no
  The Kola Ecogeochemistry Project	www.ngu.no/kola/
  Svanhovd Environmental Centre, Norway	www.svanhovd.no
  Institute of North Industrial Ecology Problems, KSC RAS, Russia	www.kolaklub.com/am/ten/intro.htm

  
  
  
  
  
  

• Addresses of contact persons

  Prof., Dr. Lars Strand	Norwegian Forest Research Institute Høgskoleveien 12, N-1432 Ås, Norway
  	Tel. Fax E-mail	(47) 64 94 96 60 47 64 94 29 80 Lars.Strand@skogforsk.no
  Dr. Dan Aamlid	Norwegian Forest Research Institute Høgskoleveien 12, N-1432 Ås, Norway
  	Tel. Fax E-mail	(47) 64 94 89 92 47 64 94 29 80 Dan.Aamlid@skogforsk.no
  Dr. Serguei Koptsik	Physics Faculty, Moscow State University Moscow 119899, Russia
  	Tel. Fax E-mail	+7 495 939 1145 +7 495 939 5907 koptsik@phys.msu.ru
  Dr. Galina Koptsik	Soil Science Faculty, Moscow State University Moscow 119899, Russia
  	Tel. Fax E-mail	+7 495 939 3573 +7 495 939 0989 koptsikg@mail.ru

Address of this page: http://soil.msu.ru/norway/link/index.html