eutrophication

Umwelt-Indikator

Indicator: Eutrophication of the North Sea/Baltic Sea by nitrogen

A graph shows the change in the concentration of total nitrogen in all major rivers that discharge into the North and Baltic Sea in Germany and indicates the target value of 2.8 or 2.6 mg/L total nitrogen for North and Baltic Sea, respectively. The concentration value is calculated as the 5-year moving average of the flow-weighted mean concentration of all major rivers in milligrams total nitrogen per litre (mg/L).

To achieve the objectives for the protection of the marine environment, Germany has committed to achieve target values for total nitrogen at the limnic-marine transition points.For the flow-weighted 5-year moving average of all rivers, these target values are achieved for the North Sea, but are still exceeded for the Baltic Sea.Some of the North and Baltic Sea tributaries still have very high conc... read more

Indicator: River eutrophication by phosphorus

A graph shows the measuring points that do not comply with the orientation values for phosphorus for the years 1982 to 2023. These are divided into quality classes depending on the level of exceedance. The proportion without exceedances has increased. The proportion of medium and severe exceedances (QC IV) has fallen sharply.

Too high phosphorus concentrations are measured at more than half of all river measurement stations in Germany.The share has declined by around one third since the beginning of the 1980s. Extreme levels of pollution are very rare nowadays.Aim of the Sustainability Strategy is to meet the requirements for good status for phosphorous in all water bodies by 2030 at the latest.This requires a change i... read more

Indicator: Agricultural nitrogen surplus

A graph shows the agricultural nitrogen surpluses for individual years and as rolling 5-year means between 1990 and 2022. The 5-year-mean nitrogen surpluses in kilogrammes per hectare dropped from 117 to 77. The target for 2028-32 is 70 kilogrammes per hectare and year.

The five-year average of nitrogen surplus of the total balance per hectare of utilized agricultural land has decreased by 34 % since 1992.The Federal Government aims to reduce the average nitrogen surplus of the total balance of the years 2028 to 2032 to 70 kilogrammes per hectare of agricultural land.If the trend of the last 10 years continues, the target will be reached. read more

Indicator: Nitrogen eutrophication

A graph shows the proportion of vulnerable ecosystems in Germany where the critical loads for eutrophication were exceeded between 2000 and 2019 and the target for 2030. In 2000, the share was 84 % and in 2019, it was 69 %.

69 % of vulnerable ecosystems in Germany are threatened 2019 by excess nitrogen deposition.With the revised German Sustainable Development Strategy 2016, the Federal Government aims to reduce the proportion of these areas by 35 % until 2030. According to the current calculation basis, this results in a target value of 52 % by 2030.This target is feasible only if efforts to reduce air pollution are... read more

Indicator: Ecological status of transitional and coastal waters

A diagram shows the distribution of the ecological status/ecological potential of transitional and coastal waters for the North Sea and the Baltic Sea for the years 2010, 2015 and 2021. The target for 2027 is shown (100 % good or very good).

In 2021 no water body of transitional or coastal waters in the North and Baltic Seas achieved good or very good status.According to the European Water Framework Directive, by 2015 and with a deadline extension to 2027 all waters should have achieved at least a good ecological status.The time must now be used to reach the ambitious targets by 2027 at the latest.This will require considerable additi... read more

Indicator: Ecological status of rivers

A graph shows the distribution of the environmental status and potential of the rivers for the years 2015 and 2021. The target for 2027 is also shown (100 percent ‘good’ or ‘very good’). In 2021, 8 percent showed at least a good status or good potential.

In 2021 only around 8 % of German streams and rivers were in at least a good ecological status or had at least a good ecological potential.According to the European Water Framework Directive, by 2015 with a time extension to 2027 all rivers must have achieved at least a good ecological status or potential.The time up to 2027 must be used to reach these demanding targets.The measures taken to date... read more

Air

Reactive nitrogen

Annual nitrogen inputs into the German environment – sectoral percentages of total inputs 1995-2014

Reactive nitrogen, unlike nonreactive molecular nitrogen (N2), is in a great many organic and inorganic substance compounds and of vital importance to all life processes. The availability of reactive nitrogen often limits plant growth, which is why sufficient supply of reactive nitrogen is so important in food production. If excessive amounts of reactive nitrogen are deposited to the environment,... read more

The Umweltbundesamt

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