News
Migratory birds in the Wadden Sea are sensitive to climate change
2011.07.19 | News
A new report on status of 34 migratory bird species in the international Wadden Sea shows that 14 bird species had declining numbers, while 20 species such as Eurasian Spoonbill, Bar-tailed Godwit, Sanderling and Grey Plover show increases.
The National Environmental Research Institute has been closed. New national centre now in operation
2011.07.07 | News
The National Environmental Research Institute (NERI), Aarhus University, has been closed, and the research-based consultancy services to authorities on nature, environment and energy are now – as per 1 July 2011 – provided by the National Centre for Environment and Energy (NERI), Aarhus University.
Wildlife overpasses can be improved
2011.07.05 | News
Scientists from NERI, Aarhus University, have shown that roe deer and red foxes as well as several small mammals use the constructed wildlife overpasses across route 18 Herning in Jutland. However, the scientists also give advice to how wildlife overpasses might be improved.
PEER opinion on the European Commission's Green Paper
2011.07.01 | News
In this issue of PEER News, you may read about the PEER (Partnership for European Environmental Research) contribution to the public consultation on the European Commissions’ Green Paper on a Common Strategic Framework for EU Research and Innovation Funding.
Air pollution 2010: Exceedances for NO2, but not for particles
2011.06.22 | News
In 2010 the annual limit value for NO2 was exceeded at one street in Copenhagen, and model calculations point to a number of other exceedances. For particles no exceedances was observed in 2010.
Nature quality in urban areas
2011.05.26 | News
A new report from the National Environmental Research Institute (NERI) at Aarhus University presents methods to calculate nature quality in urban areas based on vegetation and structure. The methods have been used to calculate the nature quality in four districts of Copenhagen County with a total of nine green areas.
Spatial distribution of emissions to air – the SPREAD model
2011.04.28 | News
NERI has developed a model to distribute emissions from the national emission inventories on a 1x1 km grid. The new spatial high resolution distribution model for emissions to air (SPREAD) has been developed according to the requirements for reporting of gridded emissions to CLRTAP.
Danish Long Range Transboundary Air Pollution 2009
2011.04.15 | News
This report is a documentation report on the emission inventories for Denmark as reported to the UNECE Secretariat under the Convention on Long Range Transboundary Air Pollution.
NERI continues to perform wild game tasks for the Ministry of the Environment
2011.03.21 | News
NERI will continue to be in charge of the research-based consultancy services for the Ministry of the Environment within the field of species, hunting and game administration. This is now evident after the task has been in an EU tender.
Tomorrow's AU and NERI
2011.03.21 | News
By Jens C. Pedersen Aarhus University (AU) has decided a number of comprehensive organisational transformations. For NERI the changes will mean that the present research departments will be distributed into two new departments. In addition to this, a National Centre for Environment and Energy (NERI) will be established with special focus on the cooperation with authorities and industry. It is AU's ambition to be a strong, modern European university. In 2006 and 2007, Aarhus University merged w
Environmental optimisation of natural gas fired engines
2011.03.08 | News
A new NERI report analyses budget and welfare costs associated with changing settings in a gas engine in order to obtain lower NOx emissions. The results show that plant owner will loose while society will gain wealth when aiming for lower NOx emissions.
Intensive hunt for samples from East Greenland polar bears
2011.03.04 | News
Since 1999 researchers at the National Environmental Research Institute (NERI), Aarhus University, have received blood and tissue samples from minimum ten of the polar bears caught by hunters from the East Greenland village of Scoresbysund (Ittoqqortoormiit) within their allowed quota.
Impact of alternative regulations of sulphur in maritime fuels
2011.03.02 | News
NERI has studied the impact on air pollution for several alternative ways to proceed in the transition from the present level of maximum 1% sulphur in maritime fuel to a maximum level of 0.1% in 2020 for ships sailing in the North and Baltic Seas.
Novel sampling techniques for environmental pollutants
2011.02.15 | News
Two equilibrium sampling methods were developed to measure PCBs in soil and sediment, in collaboration between NERI and Univ. Eastern Finland. Both methods were successfully applied to study and predict bioaccumulation in native sediment invertebrates. NB Link to news list.
Continued loss of biodiversity in the Danish landscape
2011.02.10 | News
The loss of biodiversity has not stopped in any of the nine Danish ecosystems. This is the conclusion in a new report from The National Environmental Institute (NERI) at Aarhus University, based on the examination of a large variety of species, habitats and processes.
PEER presents European Commission novel methods to map ecosystem services
2011.02.08 | News
In this issue, you may read about the first results from PRESS, the PEER joint research initiative on Ecosystem Services, which were presented to the European Commission in January. And a number of other news items from the seven partners of PEER (Partnership for European Environmental Research).
Animal and plant life in streams benefits from surrounding rich nature
2011.02.08 | News
Plant and animal life in Danish streams and brooks becomes richer when the vegetation along the banks is rich and varied too. This is documented by analyses presented in the report ”Aquatic Environment and Nature 2009” from the National Environmental Institute (NERI), Aarhus University.
New European Topic Centre on Climate Adaptation
2011.02.04 | News
The National Environmental Research Institute at Aarhus University is one of the main forces behind a new European Topic Centre to assist and advise the EU on climate adaptation in Europe using, among others, experiences from the Danish Climate Adaptation Portal.
Zackenberg data at work for students
2011.01.31 | News
15 years' of monitoring data from Zackenberg Research Station in Northeast Greenland has a central role , when the National Environmental Research Institute (NERI), Aarhus University, arranges a graduate course on arctic ecosystem processes in July in Roskilde.
Danish air model with global impact
2011.01.24 | News
The model was developed by Danish researchers at the end of the 1980’s – today it is applied world-wide and is considered state-of-the-art for describing the spread of air pollution in streets. The success can be ascribed to the robustness of the model and to the facts that it is easy to apply and yields rapid results.
Low impact from the gold mine in Nalunaq
2011.01.03 | News
The National Environmental Research Institute (NERI), Aarhus University, undertook the 7th monitoring investigation of pollution by heavy metals from the gold mine in the Nalunaq area, municipality of Nanortalik, South Greenland, from 25 to 31 August 2010. Since the monitoring in August 2009 no ore has been shipped. The extraction stopped at the end of 2008, and the last ore carrier departed on 27 March 2009. Angel Mining bought the mine on 1 July 2009 and has since then worked at excavating a
Nordic study highlights variability of emission factors for residential wood combusting
2010.12.13 | News
The Nordic particulate matter emission inventories are compared and for the most important sources – residential wood burning and road transport – a quality analysis is carried out based on PM measurements conducted and models used in the Nordic countries.
NERI-scientist co-author of article in Science
2010.12.07 | News
In the latest issue of Science, senior scientist Tage Dalsgaard, National Environmental Research Institute (NERI), Aarhus University, together with a number colleagues, describes the discovery of sulphur-loving bacteria in an oxygen-minimum zone at 50-350 m depth in the Pacific Ocean off Chile.
On the track of resistance to seal diseases in the antarctic
2010.12.07 | News
Why have the seals of the Antarctic only been seriously hit by distemper virus once, whereas our domestic seal populations have been halved several times by the same disease? This is the question which senior scientist.
Project managed by NERI among three new Nordic Centres of Excellence
2010.11.04 | News
The NORD-STAR project (Nordic Strategic Adaptation Research) led by NERI will be one of three Nordic Centres of Excellence to receive funds from the Nordic Top-level Research Programme. Professor Michael E. Goodsite, National Environmental Research Institute, Aarhus University is the project leader of the NORD-STAR project, which is to be financed over a five-year period. The NORD-STAR partners also take part in the top-level research programme network N-CMAEP Network also led by Michael E. Good
Michael Goodsite Visiting Professor at Thunderbird School of Global Management
2010.11.03 | News
Professor Michael Goodsite has been appointed “Visiting Professor of Global Processes and Senior Research Fellow in Climate Strategy” at Thunderbird School of Global Management, which has the world’s highest ranking MBA education within international business.
PEER News brings you the latest environmental news from Europe
2010.10.25 | News
The latest issue of PEER News highlights PEER Position Paper on FP8 where the PEER members conclude that strategic environmental research should be focused on the links between the grand challenges of water security, energy security, food security, social wellbeing, and the economy. Other topics include mosses as early indicators of air pollution and the feasibility of a carbon neutral society.
Analysis of NERI’s reputation: high reliability
2010.10.22 | News
The National Environmental Research Institute (NERI), which is part of Aarhus University, is regarded as a very reliable, scientifically competent and bona fide research institute. This is the result of a new analysis of NERI's reputation, identity and communication. The analysis consisted of an online survey among the subscribers to our Danish language newsletter DMUNyt as well as in-depth interviews with 25 interested parties distributed among five groups: politicians, administrators, researc
Control of Pesticides
2010.10.21 | News
Samples of selected groups of pesticides have been collected from the market and analysed to verify whether the actual contents of the respective active ingre¬dients in the products comply with the labelled content. Apart from two products, satisfactory results were found for the examined pesticide formulations.
The use of biofuels for cars pays off when oil becomes too expensive
2010.10.20 | News
This is the conclusion of a new analysis published by the National Environmental Research Institute (NERI) at Aarhus University. Environmental researchers have examined the socio-economic gain of exchanging, to a varying degree, fossil diesel and gasoline with biofuels based on grain, rape and straw.
There’s a lot in the Sea for us
2010.10.14 | News
Some 80 percent of us who live in the Baltic Sea region have spent leisure time at the sea. Once we’re there the most common activities are swimming or just enjoying the seashore. This is evidenced by a new international report NERI has contributed to. (naturvardsverket.se)
Less emission of CO2 from stationary combustion plants
2010.10.08 | News
The total Danish emissions from stationary combustion plants in 2008 were 16 % lover than in 1990. The NOx emissions were reduced by 56 % in the same period. This is revealed by a new report from the National Environmental Research Institute (NERI) at Aarhus University.
Mercury findings in whale and polar bear brains
2010.10.06 | News
Arctic marine mammals and polar bears are polluted by mercury, which is also accumulated in their brains and is presumed to have a negative effect on the brains. NERI examinations of brains from pilot whales, ringed seals, polar bears and Danish porpoises show a varying pollution degree. These examinations may increase our knowledge of how human brains are affected by mercury.
European Atlas of Soil Biodiversity
2010.10.05 | News
A new atlas contains an impressive description of European soil organisms. The atlas has been edited by the EU institutions JRC and DG-Environment with approx. 60 European contributors incl. the National Environmental Research Institute (NERI) at Aarhus University.
Danish emissions of greenhouse gases projected to fall by ca. 10 % by 2030
2010.09.17 | News
A new projection of greenhouse gas emissions shows that the Danish emissions are expected to fall about 10 % in the period 2010-2030. From 1990 to ‘2010’ the emissions are estimated to decrease by about 13 %. This is revealed in a new NERI-report.
Road pricing helps curb health-damaging air pollution
2010.07.05 | News
The effect of road pricing depends on the pricing level. Investigations conducted by the National Environmental Research Institute (NERI) at Aarhus University show that the total amount of traffic can be reduced by 7-13% with the contemplated levels. Particularly private traffic, which does not contribute as much to health-damaging air pollution as, for instance, trucks per driven kilometre, will decline. Therefore, the effects on the local health-damaging air pollution will be considerably smal
PEER launches newsletter
2010.07.02 | News
We are happy to present PEER News, the newsletter of the Partnership for European Environmental Research (PEER). The first issue focuses among others on a PEER-initiative to build a European digital atlas of ecosystem services, that wealth and population are key drivers of invasive speies, snake populations decline.
Model to estimate air pollution along highways
2010.07.02 | News
Scientists from the National Environmental Research Institute (NERI) at Aarhus University have developed a user-friendly highway model for air quality together with Ingenieurbüro Lohmeyer, Germany. The model is integrated into a GIS program and it will be useful for EIA, evaluation of air quality along highways and scenario analyses.
NERI participates in European topic centre on climate change adaptation
2010.07.01 | News
Scientists from the National Environmental Research Centre (NERI), Aarhus University, take part in a new ”European Topic Centre” on climate change adaptation. The new topic centre will provide support to the European Environment Agency (EEA) and its monitoring network, Eionet.
Emission factors for decentralised power plants
2010.06.24 | News
The National Environmental Research Institute (NERI) at Aarhus University has provided updated emission factors for decentralised combined heat and power plants based on project emission measurements as well as emission measurements performed in recent years that were collected. The emission factors valid for 2006/2007 have been estimated for the following technologies: Municipal solid waste incineration plants, plants combusting straw or wood, natural gas fuelled reciprocating engines, biogas f
No evidence of serious damage to the environment from mustard gases
2010.06.11 | News
More than 200 fishermen have been injured by the chemical warfare agents (CWA) dumped in the Baltic Sea near the island of Bornholm after the 2nd World War. However, researchers have not been able to demonstrate any damage to fish or other organisms in the sea. Low concentrations of decomposition products from the CWA can still be measured in the sea bed, but the researchers believe that most of the CWA are now more or less decomposed. These are the conclusions presented in a newly published int
Contribution to air pollution from residential wood combustion
2010.05.31 | News
The contribution to air pollution from residential wood combustion has now been mapped in unprecedented detail by researchers from the National Environmental Research Institute (NERI), Aarhus University. A comprehensive monitoring campaign in the Danish town Slagslunde indicates that residential wood combustion is a major contributor to particle pollution. When compared to the amount of heat produced, pollution from wood stoves far exceeds that from other methods of heating. However, the results
NERI hosts European workshop on otters
2010.05.26 | News
On 24-27 February 2010 NERI hosted a European workshop on post mortem examination of otters. The objective of the workshop was to formulate common guidelines for the information collection and examination of dead otters and at the same time attend to as many interests as possible to achieve cross-boundary comparability as the collection and examination methods of otters currently vary among the European countries.
Environmental contaminants threaten the health of polar bears
2010.05.12 | News
A cocktail of industrial chemicals damages the bones and organs of polar bears, their immune system and their reproduction. However, the extent of the detrimental effects remains unknown, concludes senior scientist Christian Sonne, National Environmental Research Institute (NERI), Aarhus University, having conducted the first overall review of the last 10 years’ research into the impact of pollution on the health of polar bears.
NERI among Danish recipients of international environmental prize
2010.05.11 | News
The EU financed project BALANCE led by Denmark for the protection and sustainable administration of the ecosystems of the Baltic Sea will receive the National World Energy Globe Award for Denmark in 2010 in connection with the celebration of UN’s international environment day on 5 June in Kigali, the capital of Rwanda.
Air pollution from road traffic increases the risk of lung cancer
2010.05.10 | News
A new Danish study shows that inhabitants living in areas with elevated air pollution levels due to road traffic have an increased risk of developing lung cancer.
French Order of Academic Palms awarded to NERI scientist
2010.05.05 | News
It is not often that a scientist is awarded a French order, but this is exactly what has happened to a scientist from the National Environmental Research Institute (NERI), Aarhus University. On 29 April senior scientist Helle Weber Ravn, who is employed at NERI Silkeborg, was awarded the French Order of Academic Palms.
Size matters
2010.05.04 | News
Typical size distribution of particles. Please note that the axis is logarithmic. PM2,5 and PM10 are the mass of particles sized below 2.5 and 10 micrometers, respectively. The yellow curve shows the distribution of particles measured as number, while the blue curve shows the same distribution measured as mass. As the cloud gets older, the content of condensation particles increases (from SO2) and the largest particles (> 5 micrometers) will sediment.
Christian Kjær new research director of Department of Terrestrial Ecology
2010.05.03 | News
Christian Kjær has been appointed new director of research in the Department of Terrestrial Ecology, National Environmental Research Institute (NERI) at Aarhus University. Christian Kjær comes from a position as senior scientist and head of section in the same department. He was previously employed as head of the nature department in Viborg County.
The Danish Red List has been updated with 2,702 plant and animal species
2010.04.28 | News
The National Environmental Research Institute (NERI), Aarhus University, has launched the status of 2,702 species of Danish insects, fish, mammals, fungi, lichens and vascular plants in total. The results indicate that 99 species have become regionally extinct since 1850, while 427 species are threatened. Particularly within the group of lichens there are many regionally extinct or threatened species.