Processes of atmospheric deposition of metals and acids to forests

Conference · Fri Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1982

OSTI ID:5206365

Lindberg, S E; Turner, R R; Lovett, G M

We quantified the atmospheric deposition of the water-leachable fractions of trace metals to upper canopy foliage, determined the major mechanisms of deposition, and assessed the interactions between deposited metals and acid rain for several forested areas. Atmospheric sources contributed significantly to the annual flux of these elements to the forest floor in Walker Branch Watershed, Tennessee; deposition supplied from 14% (Mn) to approx. 40% (Cd, Zn) to approx. 99% (Pb) to this flux. The measured water solubility of these metals in suspended and deposited particles indicated that they may be readily dissolved following deposition; however, only Pb appeared to be absorbed directly at the leaf surface. Dry deposition constituted a major fraction of the total annual atmospheric input of Cd and Zn (approx. 20%), Pb, (approx. 55%), and Mn (approx. 90%). In southern forests, interactions between dry deposition and acid rain can result in concentrations of metals and H+ on leaves considerably higher than in rain alone. In the subalpine forests of New England cloud deposition can also contribute to increased ion concentration on leaves.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-26
• OSTI ID: 5206365
• Report Number(s): CONF-820627-11; ON: DE82017442
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

500200 -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
510200 -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
560303* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology-- Plants-- (-1987)
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ACID RAIN
AIR POLLUTION
ATMOSPHERIC PRECIPITATIONS
CADMIUM
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DEPOSITION
DISSOLUTION
ELEMENTS
FEDERAL REGION IV
FOLIAR UPTAKE
FORESTS
LEACHING
LEAD
LEAVES
MANGANESE
METALS
MINERAL CYCLING
NORTH AMERICA
PH VALUE
POLLUTION
RAIN
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SOLUBILITY
TENNESSEE
TRACE AMOUNTS
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
UPTAKE
USA
ZINC