Indicator Code: SO2
Objective: Ecosystem Vitality
Policy Category: Ecosystem Impacts of Atmospheric Subcategory Air Pollution (Effects on Environment)
Indicator Short Name: Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) emissions
Indicator Full Name: Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) emissions per populated land area
Indicator Description: Data used in EDGAR are taken from the best possible international information sources, however it is stressed that the uncertainties in the resulting datasets may be substantial at the country level, especially for methane and nitrous oxide. These uncertainties are due to the limited accuracy of international activity data and, in particular, the emission factors utilized in calculating emissions at the national level. Data presented, however, do provide a reliable dataset for comparability since EDGAR employs methods that are comparable to IPCC methodologies and has global totals that agree with budgets used in other atmospheric studies. In addition to the data reliability issues described above, please see the “Uncertainties” and “Disclaimer” sections of the EDGAR website for more information regarding the various nuances of this dataset.
The EDGAR 3.2 database provides global annual emissions per country and on a 1×1 degree grid for 1990 and 1995 for direct greenhouse gases CO2, CH4, N2O and HFCs, PFCs and SF6 and the precursor gases CO, Nox, NMVOC and SO2.”
Units: Metric Tons
Country Coverage: 215
Reference Year: 2000
Target: 0 Metric Tons
Target Source: Expert Judgment
Short Source: EDGAR V2.0 by Netherlands National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) and the Netherlands Organizationfor Applied Scientific Research (TNO).
Source: EDGAR V2.0 by Netherlands National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) and the Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research (TNO).
The Netherlands National Institute for Public Health and the Environment/The Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency (RIVM/MNP) and the Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research (TNO). (2005).
The Emission Database for Global Atmospheric Research (EDGAR) 3.2 Fast Track 2000 and 3.2. Acidifying gases: SO2 (Sulfur Dioxide): Extended Emissions 2000 and Aggregated Emissions 1990/1995. The Netherlands, MNP.
Source URL: http://www.mnp.nl/edgar/
Methodology: The sulfur dioxide emissions were divided by the land area populated at more than five persons per square kilometer. Total land area was not used in order not to favor countries with very large land areas.
Additional Citations: Olivier, J.G.J., Bouwman, A.F., Berdowski, J.J.M., Veldt, C., Bloos, J.P.J., Visschedijk, A.J.H., Van der Maas, C.W.M. and P.Y.J. Zandveld. (1999). Sectoral emission inventories of greenhouse gases for 1990 on a per country basis as well as on 1o x 1o. Environmental Science & Policy, 2, 241-264.