Other Low Vegetation

• Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Subjects: Tundra
• Online Access: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.189.3113; http://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/EMEPCORINAIR4/B1104vs1.2.pdf

This chapter deals with NMVOC emissions from all types of grasslands and other types of vegetation (natural, semi-natural and in some cases cultivated) which do not fit easily into the forest classification. This includes especially the Mediterranean maquis/garrique and other low scrub-type vegetation, heathland, Tundra, etc. Table 1.1 outlines some examples within the SNAP codes. Most of the grasslands in mid- and northern Europe are agriculturally used for either harvesting hay (meadows) or for grazing (pastures). Natural grasslands can be found in alpine regions above the timberline (alpine Tundra), at lower elevation northwards of the timberline (boreal Tundra), in dry climatic regions with poor soil (Steppe), on saltfloors and on moorland. Low vegetation (< 5 m height), apart from grassland, is widespread across Europe. For example, in many parts of Europe moorland and heathland cover large areas, with Erica sp, Ulex sp., Calluna sp., Pteridium sp., and similar species being common. In the Mediterranean region maquis, garrique and jaral are characteristic landscapes (see definitions, 3.2). Many types of vegetation could be covered within this system, and many overlap with other SNAP categories. E.g. reed vegetation, or maritime coastal vegetation (halopsammophytic), could be included here or under SNAP1105 (wetlands). Unfortunately, we have no information on emission rates yet, so this particular problem does not arise. More importantly, methods are given here for calculating VOC emissions from Agricultural crops such as wheat, as the methodology is identical to that for other vegetation. These emissions should be entered under SNAP-level 10-Agriculture, and not SNAP-11- Other sources and sinks.