Study of the effects of acid rain on model forest ecosystems
The US EPA is involved in a multi-year experiment to estimate the effects of acid rain on forest productivity and nutriet cycling. Each of eighteen model forest ecosystems, approximately 2.3 m/sup 2/ contains a reconstructed forest soil and litter layer, sugar maple (Acer saccharum) or red alder (Alnus rubra) seedlings, tension lysimeters, and soil moisture/temperature probes. Each plot receives simulated acid rain at one of four ph values (5.7, 4.0, 3.5, 3.0). All treatments contain Ca/sup + +/, NH/sub 4//sup +/, Na/sup +/, Mg/sup + +/, SO/sub 4//sup =/, NO/sub 3//sup -/ and Cl/sup -/ in amounts typical of non-acidic rains in the northeastern United States. The pH values are controlled by equilibration with atmospheric CO/sub 2/ (pH 5.7) or by addition of H/sub 2/SO/sub 4/. Rain is applied at the rate of 2.5 mm/hr (maple) or 3.3 mm/hr (alder) for three hours/day, three days/week, throughout the year. Rainwater is sampled above and below the forest canopy; below the litter; within the root zone; and below the root zone. Biological processes being monitored include tree growth, leaf production, nutrient uptake, litter decomposition, and soil-biota changes. In this paper, the experimental design is described and the underlying conceptual model of ecosystem dynamics is presented. The methods of extrapolation to a regional scale are discussed.
- OSTI ID:
- 6863637
- Journal Information:
- Proc., Annu. Meet., Air Pollut. Control Assoc.; (United States), Vol. 69
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ACID RAIN
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
FORESTS
PRODUCTIVITY
AIR POLLUTION
AMMONIUM COMPOUNDS
CALCIUM COMPOUNDS
CATIONS
CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
FOREST LITTER
IONS
LEAVES
MAGNESIUM COMPOUNDS
MAPLES
MINERAL CYCLING
NITRATES
PH VALUE
PLANT GROWTH
SIMULATION
SODIUM COMPOUNDS
SULFATES
TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS
TREES
US EPA
ALKALI METAL COMPOUNDS
ALKALINE EARTH METAL COMPOUNDS
ATMOSPHERIC PRECIPITATIONS
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
CHARGED PARTICLES
ECOSYSTEMS
GROWTH
HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
MATERIALS
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PLANTS
POLLUTION
RAIN
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
US ORGANIZATIONS
560303* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology- Plants- (-1987)
500200 - Environment
Atmospheric- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)