Canadian Forest Service Publications
Response to air pollution. ARNEWS assesses the health of Canada's forests. (En riposte à la pollution atmosphérique. Le DNARPA permet de prendre le pouls des forêts du Canada / Respuesta a la contaminación atmosférica. Evaluación del estado de los bosques de Canadá mediante SNDTLLA). 1991. Hall, J.P.; Addison, P.A. Forestry Canada, Headquarters, Science and Sustainable Development Directorate, Ottawa. Information Report DPC-X-34. 42 p.
Year: 1991
Issued by: National Capital Region
Catalog ID: 10037
Language: English / French / Spanish
Series: Information Report (CFS - Ottawa)
Availability: PDF (download)
Abstract
In Canada, acid rain is a generic term comprising all forms of air pollution - wet and dry deposition, gaseous pollutant concentrations, and airborne particles. Because these pollutants, alone or in combination, may directly or indirectly affect the health of Canada's forests, Forestry Canada in 1984 initiated a national forest monitoring program, the Acid Rain National Early Warning System (ARNEWS).
Research on the effects of pollutants for the previous 15-20 years showed that under Canadian conditions, it was impossible to define specific symptoms of acid rain or mixtures of pollutants on trees or specific responses of the forest ecosystem. The ARNEWS program was designed to monitor the health of the forest to determine the effects of acid rain and regional air pollutants on the forest. Monitoring is done by personnel of the Forest Insect and Disease Survey, experienced in the evaluation of forest health. They assess permanent sample plots and the forest as a whole for anomalous forest damage.
Techniques used include mensurational and symptomatological measurements and evaluation of stands for damage from natural and anthropogenic causes. The system depends on the capability of Forestry Canada to support the detection and monitoring system with research staff to carry out studies explaining abnormalities in the condition of the forest. Observed abnormalities then lead to research projects on possible causes.
