This volume summarises the result of an interdisciplinary research programme entitled Rehabilitation of the Atmosphere of the New States of Germany - Effects on Terrestrial Ecosystems'. Before the unification of Germany, emission loads of SO₂ and dust particles were up to 18-fold higher in East than in West Germany. However, emission rates have decreased significantly since reunification in 1990, due to the breakdown of a large number of industrial and particularly lignite- fired powerplants and the implementation of clean air technologies. In order to study the effects of these...