New exposure-based metric approach for evaluating O3 risk to North American aspen forests

Authors

K. E. Percy, Canadian Forest Service
M. Nosal, University of Calgary
W. Heilman, USDA Forest Service
T. Dann, Environment Canada
J. Sober, Michigan Technological University
A. H. Legge, Biosphere Solutions
D. F. Karnosky, Michigan Technological UniversityFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

6-2007

Department

College of Forest Resources and Environmental Science

Abstract

The United States and Canada currently use exposure-based metrics to protect vegetation from O3. Using 5 years (1999-2003) of co-measured O3, meteorology and growth response, we have developed exposure-based regression models that predict Populus tremuloides growth change within the North American ambient air quality context. The models comprised growing season fourth-highest daily maximum 8-h average O3 concentration, growing degree days, and wind speed. They had high statistical significance, high goodness of fit, include 95% confidence intervals for tree growth change, and are simple to use. Averaged across a wide range of clonal sensitivity, historical 2001-2003 growth change over most of the 26 M ha P. tremuloides distribution was estimated to have ranged from no impact (0%) to strong negative impacts (-31%). With four aspen clones responding negatively (one responded positively) to O3, the growing season fourth-highest daily maximum 8-h average O3 concentration performed much better than growing season SUM06, AOT40 or maximum 1 h average O3 concentration metrics as a single indicator of aspen stem cross-sectional area growth.

Publication Title

Environmental Pollution

Recommended Citation

Percy, K., Nosal, M., Heilman, W., Dann, T., Sober, J., Legge, A., & Karnosky, D. F. (2007). New exposure-based metric approach for evaluating O3 risk to North American aspen forests. Environmental Pollution, 147(3), 554-566. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2006.10.009
Retrieved from: https://digitalcommons.mtu.edu/michigantech-p/6362