中国典型森林生态系统土壤水分时空分异及其影响因素

森林土壤水分作为物质与能量循环的载体影响林木生长与发育,并通过影响水分在陆气之间的循环与分配影响区域气候。基于我国不同气候带的9个森林生态系统定位观测站的长期观测数据,探究了2005-2016年中国典型森林生态系统土壤水分的空间分异及其时间动态,并进一步分析了影响其时空分异的环境因素。主要研究结论如下：（1）9个森林生态系统的土壤水分多年均值介于12.45%-36.30%之间,空间上呈现中温带、亚热带、热带土壤水分较高,暖温带土壤水分较低的分布特征。降水蒸散差（降水与蒸散的差值）可以解释我国森林生态系统土壤水分空间分异的62%（P<0.05）;（2）我国北部与东部季风区森林区域土壤水分呈上升趋势,降水上升是主因,其中暖温带北京、南亚热带鼎湖山与鹤山森林土壤水分上升趋势显著,增幅分别为0.67%/a、1.72%/a与0.69%/a;西南地区森林生态系统土壤水分呈下降趋势,该趋势由降水下降与蒸散上升共同导致,其中中亚热带贡嘎山及哀牢山森林生态系统土壤水分下降趋势显著,降幅分别为-1.77%/a与-0.94%/a;土壤水分时间分异与降水蒸散差的相关性最高（R=0.59,P<0.01）;（3）土壤水分呈下降趋势的森林生态系统中,春季土壤水分变化主导了年际变化,土壤水分上升的森林生态系统中,年际变化则是由秋、冬季主导。（4）与ERA-interim土壤水分再分析数据比较得出,两者在空间格局与变化趋势上均具有较高的一致性。CERN土壤水分观测数据反映了无人为干扰的自然条件下森林土壤-植被-气候之间的反馈作用,可为基于模型的土壤水分研究提供长时序的验证数据。     

Components of ecosystem evaporation in a temperate coniferous rainforest, with canopy transpiration scaled using sapwood density

Here we develop and test a method to scale sap velocity measurements from individual trees to canopy transpiration (E(c)) in a low-productivity, old-growth rainforest dominated by the conifer Dacrydium cupressinum. Further, E(c) as a component of the ecosystem water balance is quantified in relation to forest floor evaporation rates and measurements of ecosystem evaporation using eddy covariance (E(eco)) in conditions when the canopy was dry and partly wet. Thermal dissipation probes were used to measure sap velocity of individual trees, and scaled to transpiration at the canopy level by dividing trees into classes based on sapwood density and canopy position (sheltered or exposed). When compared with ecosystem eddy covariance measurements, E(c) accounted for 51% of E(eco) on dry days, and 22% of E(eco) on wet days. Low transpiration rates, and significant contributions to E(eco) from wet canopy evaporation and understorey transpiration (35%) and forest floor evaporation (25%), were attributable to the unique characteristics of the forest: in particular, high rainfall, low leaf area index, low stomatal conductance and low productivity associated with severe nutrient limitation.     

The role of peristomatal transpiration in the mechanism of stomatal movement

Abstract. Peristomatal transpiration is defined as the relative high local rate of cuticular water loss from external and internal surfaces around the stomatal pore and its decisive role in the control of stomatal movement is re-emphasized. As the resistance towards changes in air humidity is low in the pore surroundings, the state of turgor is particularly unsteady there. Due to the inherent instability the guard cell 'senses' fluctuations in the supply-demand relationship of water and is thus the control unit proper. The environmental variables (supply and demand) are cross-correlated within the subsidiary cell and the information is transmitted to the guard cell through the water potential gradient between the two cells. A conceptual segregation of a 'humidity response' by 'passive' stomatal movements is rejected.
As ions always accumulate at the most distant point of the liquid path and as this point varies with pore width according to the prevailing water potential gradients, it is felt that the water stream is causing the characteristic pattern of ion distribution within the epidermis. Passive import of ions is attributed to local concentration gradients which are steepened by continuous supply and by water uptake into the guard cell in response to starch hydrolysis. A mechanistic model supplements the discussion.     

The transpiration response by four topographically distributed Eucalyptus species, to rainfall occurring during drought in south eastern Australia

Vegetation covers a substantial proportion of the terrestrial Earth surface and where removed from human influence has evolved influenced mainly by climatic and edaphic constraints. Over the past 200 years, substantial tracts of the wheat-sheep belt of southern Australia has been cleared of native vegetation and replaced by annual crop and pasture species. As a consequence, there has been a change in the water balance of many catchments as now more water leaks beneath the roots of introduced plants, contributing to groundwater rise and expansion in the amount of land affected by salinization. In an attempt to arrest root zone leakage, scientists and managers acknowledge the need for new agricultural practices which mimic the ecohydrological behaviour patterns of remnant vegetation.
In this paper, we examine the water use characteristics of four woodland Eucalyptus species growing in different topographic and edaphic environments in south eastern Australia. Eucalyptus sideroxylon and E. rossii were the sub- and dominant species inhabiting the stony ridges, while in the adjacent valleys E. macrorhyncha and E. albens were the sub- and dominant species, respectively. At the two locations, sub-dominant species were highly responsive to episodic rainfall events both during and following drought, and exhibited distinct seasonality in daily transpiration rate; while the dominant species at each location was less responsive to rainfall and water use appeared to be less seasonally dependent. Analysis of the water use response indicated that the two sub-dominant species had shallower roots while the major of roots of the dominant trees were likely to be located deeper in the substratum. This suggested that the stony ridges may store water deeper in the substratum than previously thought, to sustain some remnant vegetation over the dry summers, and ultimately, contribute less recharge to groundwater.     

大棚甜瓜蒸腾规律及其影响因子

研究大棚甜瓜的蒸腾规律和影响因子,可以为大棚甜瓜水分优化管理提供理论依据。利用大棚盆栽试验,设定了4个水分梯度,定量分析了大棚甜瓜蒸腾规律及蒸腾量与植株生理特性、气象环境因子、土壤水分含量的关系。结果表明:(1)各水分处理条件下甜瓜蒸腾强度日变化曲线均呈"双峰型",有明显的"午休"现象。(2)甜瓜生理需水系数与叶面积指数、有效积温关系显著,分别呈线性和抛物线函数关系。(3)甜瓜全生育期累计蒸腾量呈现出"慢—快—慢"的变化规律,可以用Logistic函数进行模拟。(4)甜瓜叶面积指数、日平均空气温度、日平均空气相对湿度、日太阳辐射累积、土壤相对含水量均与单株日蒸腾量呈显著性相关关系;甜瓜叶面积指数对蒸腾的综合作用最大,是决策变量;土壤水分含量是限制变量,主要通过对其他因子的影响间接作用于蒸腾。(5)气象环境因子对甜瓜蒸腾量的影响力很大程度上取决于土壤水分含量;气象环境因子与蒸腾量的相关性随土壤水分含量的增大而增大,在土壤相对含水量为70%—80%范围内达到最高值,当土壤含水量接近田间持水量时,与各因子的相关系数逐渐下降。(6)甜瓜水分胁迫指数与土壤相对有效含水量关系显著,二者呈现线性关系。     

Control of transpiration from the upper canopy of a tropical forest: the role of stomatal, boundary layer and hydraulic architecture components

Concurrent, independent measurements of stomatal conductance (g_s), transpiration (E) and microenvironmental variables were used to characterize control of crown transpiration in four tree species growing in a moist, lowland tropical forest. Access to the upper forest canopy was provided by a construction crane equipped with a gondola. Estimates of boundary layer conductance (g_b) obtained with two independent methods permitted control of E to be partitioned quantitatively between g_s and g_b using a dimensionless decoupling coefficient (Ω) ranging from zero to 1. A combination of high g_s (c. 300–600 mmol m^?2 s^?1) and low wind speed, and therefore relatively low g_b (c. 100–800 mmol m^?2 s^?1), strongly decoupled E from control by stomata in all four species (Ω= 0.7–0.9). Photosynthetic water-use efficiency was predicted to increase rather than decrease with increasing g_s because g_b was relatively low and internal conductance to CO₂ transfer was relatively high. Responses of g_s to humidity were apparent only when the leaf surface, and not the bulk air, was used as the reference point for determination of external vapour pressure. However, independent measurements of crown conductance (g_c), a total vapour phase conductance that included stomatal and boundary layer components, revealed a clear decline in g_c with increasing leaf-to-bulk air vapour pressure difference (V_a because the external reference points for determination of g_c and V_a were compatible. The relationships between g_c and V_c and between g_s and V_s appeared to be distinct for each species. However, when g_s and g_c were normalized by the branch-specific ratio of leaf area to sapwood area (LA/SA), a morphological index of potential transpirational demand relative to water transport capacity, a common relationship between conductance and evaporative demand for all four species emerged. Taken together, these results implied that, at a given combination of LA/SA and evaporative demand scaled to the appropriate reference point, the vapour phase conductance and therefore transpiration rates on a leaf area basis were identical in all four contrasting species studied.     

不同土壤水分条件下中国沙棘雌雄株光合作用、蒸腾作用及水分利用效率特征

采用LI-6400便携式光合系统对野外不同生境(沟底、坡面)和田间不同土壤水分条件下中国沙棘雌雄株的净光合速率和蒸腾速率及水分利用效率特征进行了观测,结果表明,中国沙棘雌雄株在水分条件较好的生境中均表现较强的生活力,净光合速率和蒸腾速率主要受光照强度和大气温度的影响,雄株表现出更高的光合、蒸腾、水分利用效率;在水分条件较差的生境中,雌雄株均通过降低蒸腾和提高水分利用效率来适应逆境,净光合速率和蒸腾速率的影响因子增多,雄株的光合速率大幅度下降,雌株仍保持较高的光合速率,雌株的水分利用效率高于雄株.可见,在反映植物瞬时生理变化的性状方面,雌株对土壤水分减少表现出了更强的适应性,雄株对土壤水分变化表现出了更大的敏感性.     

The Arabidopsis GIBBERELLIN METHYL TRANSFERASE 1 suppresses gibberellin activity,reduces whole‐plant transpiration and promotes drought tolerance in transgenic tomato

Previous studies have shown that reduced gibberellin (GA) level or signal promotes plant tolerance to environmental stresses, including drought, but the underlying mechanism is not yet clear. Here we studied the effects of reduced levels of active GAs on tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) plant tolerance to drought as well as the mechanism responsible for these effects. To reduce the levels of active GAs, we generated transgenic tomato overexpressing the Arabidopsis thaliana GA METHYL TRANSFERASE 1 (AtGAMT1) gene. AtGAMT1 encodes an enzyme that catalyses the methylation of active GAs to generate inactive GA methyl esters. Tomato plants overexpressing AtGAMT1 exhibited typical GA‐deficiency phenotypes and increased tolerance to drought stress. GA application to the transgenic plants restored normal growth and sensitivity to drought. The transgenic plants maintained high leaf water status under drought conditions, because of reduced whole‐plant transpiration. The reduced transpiration can be attributed to reduced stomatal conductance. GAMT1 overexpression inhibited the expansion of leaf‐epidermal cells, leading to the formation of smaller stomata with reduced stomatal pores. It is possible that under drought conditions, plants with reduced GA activity and therefore, reduced transpiration, will suffer less from leaf desiccation, thereby maintaining higher capabilities and recovery rates.     

Soil moisture determines the recovery time of ecosystems from drought

Recovery time, the time it takes for ecosystems to return to normal states after experiencing droughts, is critical for assessing the response of ecosystems to droughts; however, the spatial dominant factors determining recovery time are poorly understood. We identify the global patterns of terrestrial ecosystem recovery time based on remote sensed vegetation indices, analyse the affecting factors of recovery time using random forest regression model, and determine the spatial distribution of the dominant factors of recovery time based on partial correlation. The results show that the global average recovery time is approximately 3.3 months, and that the longest recovery time occurs in mid-latitude drylands. Analysis of affecting factors of recovery time suggests that the most important environmental factor affecting recovery time is soil moisture during the recovery period, followed by temperature and vapour pressure deficit (VPD). Recovery time shortens with increasing soil moisture and prolongs with increasing VPD; however, the response of recovery time to temperature is nonmonotonic, with colder or hotter temperatures leading to longer recovery time. Soil moisture dominates the drought recovery time over 58.4% of the assessed land area, mostly in the mid-latitudes. The concern is that soil moisture is projected to decline in more than 65% regions in the future, which will lengthen the drought recovery time and exacerbate drought impacts on terrestrial ecosystems, especially in southwestern United States, the Mediterranean region and southern Africa. Our research provides methodological insights for quantifying recovery time and spatially identifies dominant factors of recovery time, improving our understanding of ecosystem response to drought.     

Assessment of transpiration efficiency in peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) under drought using a lysimetric system

Transpiration efficiency (TE) is an important trait for drought tolerance in peanut ( Arachis hypogaea L.). The variation in TE was assessed gravimetrically using a long time interval in nine peanut genotypes (Chico, ICGS 44, ICGV 00350, ICGV 86015, ICGV 86031, ICGV 91114, JL 24, TAG 24 and TMV 2) grown in lysimeters under well-watered or drought conditions. Transpiration was measured by regularly weighing the lysimeters, in which the soil surface was mulched with a 2-cm layer of polythene beads. TE in the nine genotypes used varied from 1.4 to 2.9 g kg⁻¹ under well-watered and 1.7 to 2.9 g kg⁻¹ under drought conditions, showing consistent variation in TE among genotypes. A higher TE was found in ICGV 86031 in both well-watered and drought conditions and lower TE was found in TAG-24 under both water regimes. Although total water extraction differed little across genotypes, the pattern of water extraction from the soil profile varied among genotypes. High water extraction within 24 days following stress imposition was negatively related to pod yield ( r ²   =   0.36), and negatively related to water extraction during a subsequent period of 32 days ( r ²   =   0.73). By contrast, the latter, i.e. water extraction during a period corresponding to grain filling (24 to 56 days after flowering) was positively related to pod yield ( r ²   =   0.36). TE was positively correlated with pod weight ( r ²   =   0.30) under drought condition. Our data show that under an intermittent drought regime, TE and water extraction from the soil profile during a period corresponding to pod filling were the most important components.     

Stomatal and environmental control of transpiration in a lowland tropical forest tree

Stomatal control of crown transpiration was studied in Anacardium excelsum, a large-leaved, emergent canopy species common in the moist forests of Central and northern South America. A construction crane equipped with a gondola was used to gain access to the uppermost level in the crown of a 35-m-tall individual. Stomatal conductance at the single leaf scale, and transpiration and total vapour phase conductance (stomatal and boundary layer) at the branch scale were measured simultaneously using the independent techniques of porometry and stem heat balance, respectively. This permitted the sensitivity of transpiration to a marginal change in stomatal conductance to be evaluated using a dimensionless coupling coefficient (1-ω) ranging from zero to 1, with 1 representing maximal stomatal control of transpiration. Average stomatal conductance varied from 0.09 mol m^?2 s^?1 during the dry season to 0.3 mol m^?2 s^?1 during the wet season. Since boundary layer conductance was relatively low (0.4 mol m^?2 s^?1), 1-ω ranged from 0.46 during the dry season to only 0.25 during the wet season. A pronounced stomatal response to humidity was observed, which strongly limited transpiration as evaporative demand increased. The stomatal response to humidity was apparent only when the leaf surface was used as the reference point for measurement of external vapour pressure. Average transpiration was predicted to be nearly the same during the dry and wet seasons despite a 1 kPa difference in the prevailing leaf-to-air vapour pressure difference. The patterns of stomatal behaviour and transpiration observed were consistent with recent proposals that stomatal responses to humidity are based on sensing the transpiration rate itself.     

黄土高原苹果园蒸腾导度大气驱动规律比较

植物蒸腾导度是表征土壤-植物-大气连续体（SPAC）中植物-大气间水汽传导过程、反映植物水分调控能力的一类重要变量,常见有冠层导度（G_c）、冠层气孔导度（G_s）与叶片气孔导度（g_s）,明确三者在反映冠层蒸腾过程时的异同或关联性对于理解植物水分利用机制具有重要意义。本研究基于对黄土高原果园苹果树生长季内树干液流（J_s）及环境因子的连续观测,计算了G_c、G_s及脱耦联系数（Ω）等变量,并与短期连续观测的叶片气孔导度（g_s）比较,分析了G_c、G_s和g_s在反映冠层蒸腾特征方面的异同及其关系。结果表明,日变化过程中G_s、g_s呈"单峰"型曲线,而G_c则呈"先增后减,午后抬升"的"双峰"型曲线。g_s与G_s存在较紧密的线性关系（R²=0.80）,但与G_c的线性关系较弱（R²=0.02）。G_c、G_s均随大气水汽压亏缺（VPD）的变化呈现确定的规律,其中,上边界函数呈递减的对数函数关系,平均值则符合先增后减的Log-Normal函数关系（R²>0.95）,拐点对应的VPD值分别为1.33和1.16 kPa。在一日内,G_s对VPD变化的响应过程与g_s对VPDL （基于叶片温度计算的水汽压亏缺）变化的响应过程总体一致,其一致性高于G_c对VPD变化的响应。整个生长季（4-10月）中果树的Ω平均值为0.12,随着Ω递减,G_c与G_s的线性相关性愈趋紧密,其斜率呈递增趋势,G_c越来越趋近于G_s。研究结果表明,在北方地区,基于树干液流的监测能较准确的推导整株并估算林分的冠层蒸腾导度。与实测g_s的变化过程比较,G_s比G_c具有更高的一致性,G_s可以作为描述苹果树水分利用过程响应大气驱动的更为恰当的变量。     

Long-term transpiration change with rainfall decline in a Mediterranean Quercus ilex forest

In the Mediterranean basin, precipitation is expected to decline as a consequence of climate change. The response of a Quercus ilex forest in southern France to such a decline in water availability was studied using a 4-year throughfall exclusion experiment. Seasonal courses of sap flow and leaf water potential were obtained from 2004 to 2007 and used to characterize tree water relations in a control and a dry treatment. The experiment reduced the average precipitation input to the soil by 29%, and resulted in a 23% reduction in annual transpiration. Soil water potential was significantly lower in the dry treatment only during summer drought, but transpiration was reduced all year round even during well-watered periods. Despite a tight stomatal control over transpiration, whole-tree hydraulic conductance was found to be lower in the trees growing in the driest conditions. This reduction in water transport capacity was observed jointly with a reduction in leaf transpiring area. Canopy leaf area decreased by 18% in the dry treatment as a consequence of the throughfall exclusion, which was found to validate the ecohydrological equilibrium theory.     

基于液流格型特征值和标准化方法分析胸径和土壤水分对荷木液流的影响

基于液流格型特征值-偏度和峰度分析了不同胸径荷木在水分利用方面的差异,并利用标准化的方法消除强影响因子(光合有效辐射,PAR)对液流的影响,研究了弱影响因子(土壤湿度)与液流的关系.结果表明：荷木胸径越大,偏度越小,液流密度峰值越靠后,相应的液流峰值越大,蒸腾量也越大.与旱季相比,荷木大树在湿季偏度较小,液流密度到达峰值时间靠后,峰值大,蒸腾量也大;而小树偏度在旱、湿季的差异不明显,蒸腾量差异也不大.用PAR峰值对荷木个体蒸腾和土壤湿度进行标准化后,荷木个体蒸腾与土壤湿度呈更明显的正相关关系.在土壤湿度较大的季节,荷木大树的蒸腾量随土壤湿度增加而上升的速率基本稳定;而中等木和小树的某些个体则明显下降,说明这些树木的蒸腾和吸收土壤水分的能力可能接近极限.     

荷木整树蒸腾对干湿季土壤水分的水力响应

降雨在时间上的非均匀分配导致森林土壤含水量呈现明显的干、湿季变化,并可能在干季形成水分胁迫,引起植物蒸腾变化。在监测环境因子的同时,利用Granier热消散探针连续监测荷木(Schima superba)的树干液流,以液流密度值计算整树蒸腾,并结合水力导度与叶片/土壤的水势差,探讨环境因子和水力导度对荷木整树蒸腾的协同控制。结果表明,华南地区的季节性降雨形成的干、湿季并未引起荷木蒸腾在季节上的显著差异,但对产生蒸腾的水力生理产生了显著影响。荷木蒸腾在干、湿季均与主要驱动环境因子(光合有效辐射PAR和水汽压亏缺VPD)呈显著正相关。在水热充足的湿季,荷木蒸腾主要受气孔导度调节;在干季,当空气水汽压亏缺达2.132 MPa时,水力导度与气孔导度协同控制蒸腾。整树水力导度对整树蒸腾的水力补偿出现在15:00—17:00,平均补偿值为0.08 g/s。利用蒸腾的估测值与实测值之间的差值量化荷木的水力补偿效应,是对水力导度与气孔导度协同控制树木蒸腾机理的深入探索。研究结果对于掌握季节性降雨不均背景下华南地区主要造林树种需水和耗水规律,有效发挥森林保水功能具有重要意义。     

基于标准化土壤湿度指数的滦河流域农业干旱评价

干旱是造成农业生产损失的主要灾害之一,及时、准确地监测农业干旱对于降低作物生产损失具有重要意义.本研究基于土壤含水量历史时间序列数据构建了标准化土壤湿度指数,分析了滦河流域2002-2019年干旱时空分布变化规律,并对农业干旱进行定量评价.结果表明:研究期间,滦河流域内大部分栅格单元土壤含水量在时间上以正态分布为主,少...     

Estimation of Mediterranean forest transpiration and photosynthesis through the use of an ecosystem simulation model driven by remotely sensed data

Aim This paper investigates the use of an ecosystem simulation model, FOREST‐BGC, to estimate the main ecophysiological processes (transpiration and photosynthesis) of Mediterranean coastal forest areas using remotely sensed data. Location Model testing was carried out at two protected forest sites in central Italy, one of which was covered by Turkey oak (Circeo National Park) and the other by holm‐oak (Castelporziano Estate). Methods At both sites, transpiration and photosynthesis measurements were collected in the field during the growing seasons over a four‐year period (1999 and 2001 for the Turkey oak; 1997, 1999 and 2000 for the holm‐oak). Calibration of the model was obtained through combining information derived from ground measurements and remotely sensed data. In particular, remote sensing estimates of the Leaf Area Index derived from 1 × 1‐km NOAA AVHRR Normalized Difference Vegetation Index data were used to improve the adaptation of the model to local forest conditions. Results The results indicated different strategies regarding water use efficiency, ‘water spending’ for Turkey oak and ‘water saving’ for holm‐oak. The water use efficiency for the holm‐oak was consistently higher than that for the Turkey oak and the relationship between VPD and WUE for the holm‐oak showed a higher coefficient of determination (R² = 0.9238). Comparisons made between the field measurements of transpiration and photosynthesis and the model estimates showed that the integration procedure used for the deciduous oak forest was effective, but that there is a need for further studies regarding the sclerophyllous evergreen forest. In particular, for Turkey oak the simulations of transpiration yielded very good results, with errors lower than 0.3 mm H₂O/day, while the simulation accuracy for photosynthesis was lower. In the case of holm‐oak, transpiration was markedly overestimated for all days considered, while the simulations of photosynthesis were very accurate. Main conclusions Overall, the approach offers interesting operational possibilities for the monitoring of Mediterranean forest ecosystems, particularly in view of the availability of new satellite sensors with a higher spatial and temporal resolution, which have been launched in recent years.     

华北地区土壤水分的时空变化特征

土壤水分是重要的水文参数,也是水循环、气候变化等研究的基本要素.本研究利用中国气象局新一代自动土壤水分观测网逐小时土壤水分观测数据,分析2013-2019年间华北地区土壤水分的时空分布和变化趋势及其与降水和温度的关系.结果 表明:研究期间,华北地区10～100 cm土层土壤水分整体呈波动下降趋势,尤以100 cm根区土...     

The role of atmospheric dispersion models and ecosystem sensitivity in the determination of characterisation factors for acidifying and eutrophying emissions in LCIA

Background, aim and scope  The methodological choices and framework to assess environmental impacts in life cycle assessment are still under discussion. Despite intensive developments worldwide, few attempts have been made hitherto to systematically present the role of different factors of characterisation models in life cycle impact assessment (LCIA). The aim of this study is to show how European average and country-dependent characterisation factors for acidifying and eutrophying emissions differ when using (a) acidifying and eutrophying potentials alone, (b) depositions from an atmospheric dispersion model or (c) critical loads in conjunction with those depositions. Furthermore, in the latter case, the contributions of emissions, an atmospheric transport model and critical loads to changes in characterisation factors of NO₂ are studied. In addition, the new characterisation factors based on the accumulated exceedance (AE) method are presented using updated emissions, a new atmospheric transport model and the latest critical loads. Materials and methods  In this study, characterisation factors for acidifying and eutrophying emissions are calculated by three different methods. In the ‘no fate’ (NF) methods, acidifying and eutrophying potentials alone are considered as characterisation factors. In the ‘only above terrestrial environment’ (OT) approach, characterisation factors are based on the deposition of the acidifying or eutrophying substances to terrestrial land surfaces. The third method is the so-called AE method in which critical loads are used in conjunction with depositions. The results of the methods are compared both at the European and the country level using weighted mean, weighted standard deviation, minimum and maximum values. To illustrate the sensitivity of the AE method, changes in European emissions, employed atmospheric dispersion model and the critical loads database are conducted step-by-step, and the differences between the results are analysed. Results and discussion  For European average characterisation factors, the three characterisation methods of acidification produce results in which the contributions of NH₃, NO₂ and SO₂ to the acidification indicator do not differ much within each method when 1 kg of each acidifying substance is emitted. However, the NF methods cannot describe any spatial aspects of environmental problems. Both OT and AE methods show that the spatial aspects play an important role in the characterisation factors. The AE method results in greater differentiations between country-dependent characterisation factors than does the OT method. In addition, the results of the AE and OT methods differ from each other for individual countries. A major shortcoming of the OT approach is that it does not consider the sensitivity of the ecosystems onto which the pollutants are deposited, whereas the AE approach does. In the case of the AE method, a new atmospheric dispersion model, new information on emissions and critical loads have a different influence on the characterisation factors, depending on the country. The results of statistics show that the change in the atmospheric dispersion model has a greatest influence on the results, since ecosystem-specific depositions are taken into account for the first time. Conclusions and recommendations  The simple NF methods can be used in a first approximation to assess the impacts of acidification and terrestrial eutrophication in cases where we do not know where the emissions occur. The OT approach is a more advanced method compared with the NF method, but its capability to describe spatial aspects is limited. The AE factors are truly impact-oriented characterisation factors and the information used here represents the current best knowledge about the assessment practice of acidification and terrestrial eutrophication in Europe. The key message of this study is that there is no shortcut to achieving advanced characterisation of acidification and terrestrial eutrophication: an advanced methodology cannot develop without atmospheric dispersion models and information on ecosystem sensitivity.