Author(s)

R. Grote, M. Erhard & M. Flechsig

Abstract

Investigation and simulation of pollution effects on pine forests in Eastern Germany R. Grote, M. Erhard, M. Flechsig Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, D-1447 3 Potsdam, Germany During past decades, forests in former East Germany have been exposed to high concentrations of air pollutants, in particular to sulphur compounds, with the consequence of severe damage. Since German reunification and the breakdown of much of the industry in this area, atmospheric deposition has declined sharply and its composition has changed as well. Therefore a project was launched to gain a quantitative assessment of future forest development, concentrating on Scotch pine as the most common species. The methodological approach is based on coupling a geographic information system with a dynamic simulation model. This paper gives an overview of the approach taken, and presents first results from comparison of theoretical simulations with forest inventory data. Introduction Former East German

Keywords