Acid precipitation and forest growth in the northeastern United States

Book · Wed Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1975

OSTI ID:5660964

Cogbill, C V

Forests in New York, New England, and Tennessee were studied with tree-ring analysis to determine growth rates through time. The generality of a previously observed decrease in productivity at Hubbard Brook, New Hampshire, to other northern hardwood forests was investigated. Precipitation chemistry during the 1920's indicates heavy ionic deposition, but low acidity in Virginia, Tennessee (pH 7.4), and New York (pH 6.15). Precipitation pH below that expected (5.6) existed in eastern North America in 1949 and was widespread in 1955-56 (pH <4.52). The generalized regional pattern of acid deposition centered over the northeastern United States has continued (with some intensification--pH as low as 4.0) to the present. The region of acid precipitation has spread with acidification most rapid in the south and west. At the Bowl Natural Area, New Hampshire, tree growth dynamics indicate no abnormal features in recent years. Recent radial growth of old-age spruce in New England and Tennessee is also within normal variation. It is hypothesized that at Hubbard Brook, by the 1940's, competition from the released trees increased resulting in decreased radial increment. A later decrease in basal area increment (1945-60) can be directly tied to the radial increment decrease; further stocking and a stabilization of radial increment growth should counteract the recent overshoot in basal area growth. These same trends have been observed in successional forests from partial northern-hardwood logging cuts. No regional, synchronized decrease (especially in old-age stands) in radial increment growth is evident, and growth on acid soils or in recently acidified areas does not appear to be different from that in other areas. Weather, stand dynamics, and determination error are probably contributory causes.

• OSTI ID: 5660964
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

510200 -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Chemicals Monitoring &amp; Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
560303* -- Chemicals Metabolism &amp; Toxicology-- Plants-- (-1987)
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ACID RAIN
ACIDIFICATION
ATMOSPHERIC PRECIPITATIONS
BEECH TREES
BIRCHES
CONIFERS
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
FEDERAL REGION I
FEDERAL REGION II
FEDERAL REGION III
FEDERAL REGION IV
FORESTS
GROWTH
MAPLES
NEW HAMPSHIRE
NEW YORK
NORTH AMERICA
PH VALUE
PINES
PLANT GROWTH
PLANTS
RAIN
SOILS
TENNESSEE
TREE RINGS
TREES
USA
VIRGINIA