Mapping critical levels/loads for the Slovak Republic

Abstract

As a part of the Agreement on Environmental Cooperation between Norway and Slovakia, a project "Mapping Critical Levels/Loads for Slovakia" has started. The results from the first pilot phase are presented. A pilot area (90 grid squares 10 x 10 km) in the mountainous Central Slovakia was chosen. Critical loads for orest soils, surface and groundwaters as well as their exeedance were calculated, using steady-state mass balance model PROFILE for forest soils and steady water chemistry method for surface and ground waters. Critical load of acidity exceedances (5 percentile) for forest soils were estimated in 80% of the pilot area. The most frequent exceedances values were found in interval 0.5-2.0 keq.ha-1yr-1. The critical sulphur deposition (calculated on basis of sulphur fraction) was exceeded in 52% of cases. No acidity exceedance for neither surface nor groundwaters was found in any grid square. The project is planned to continue in 1995.