351. Answer to the Remarks of Mr. Zimmermeyer
- Author
-
B. Ulrich
- Subjects
Biomass (ecology) ,Natural resource economics ,Judgement ,Air pollution ,medicine ,Environmental science ,Carrying capacity ,Ecosystem ,Ecosphere ,medicine.disease_cause ,Tree species ,Deposition (geology) - Abstract
The measurement of deposition gives information about the load to which the ecosystem is subjected. The balances discussed allow to judge the carrying capacity of the ecosystem; this judgement can be supplemented by the knowledge of other state variables of the ecosystem as given elsewhere. Knowledge of the load and of the carrying capacity allows conclusions about consequences. Our investigations are directed to detect effects of the different stress factors acting on the ecosystem, including climate, biomass utilization and choice of tree species. These investigations have already given considerable information about the interaction of the various stress factors, including air pollutants. This information has been presented in several papers (e.g. ULRICH et al. 1979, ULRICH 1983a and b). Thus we have done precisly what ZIMMERMEYER demands but he seems not to recognize this. The only environmental factor for forests which has been changed is the “chemical climate” by air pollution. There is therefore no doubt that this change is the driving force for a development in the ecosphere which is characterized not only by tree and forest die-back, but also by the acidification of waters and by the disappearence of species at an increasing rate. The data about load, carrying capacity and visible damage are more than enough to claim a rapid and considerable reduction of air pollution to avoid a possible ecological catastrophe.
- Published
- 1983