Effects of sulfuric acid rain on major cation and sulfate concentrations of water percolating throught two model hardwood forests
To document and quantify ecosystem response to the onset of acid precipitation, simulated sulfuric acid (H/sub 2/SO/sub 4/) rain was applied to model forest plots of sugar maple (Acer saccharum Marsh.) and red alder (Alnus rubra Bong.) One set of four plots (two alder and two maple) received a control rain consisting of a stock solution equilibrated with atmospheric CO/sub 2/ to approximately pH 5.7. For three sets of four plots, sufficient H/sub 2/SO/sub 4/ was added to the stock solution to lower the pH to 4.0, 3.5, or 3.0. Nozzles were used to apply simulated acid rain at the rate of 2.8 mm/hour (maple) or 3.7 mm/hour (alder) for 3 hours/day, 3 days/week, throughout the year. Water samples were collected above and below the canopy, below the litter layer, and from 20-cm and 1-m depths below the surface of the soil. Results showed that a hardwood canopy and litter layer can alter the input of chemicals to the soil from acid rain, that the relative sensitivity of ions to mobilization by acid rain is not the same for all components of an ecosystem, and that acid rain can alter the chemical composition of water within the root zone within a few years, even if the soil is a strong sulfate adsorber. (JMT)
- Research Organization:
- Corvallis Environmental Research Lab., OR
- OSTI ID:
- 5672318
- Journal Information:
- J. Environ. Qual.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Environ. Qual.; (United States) Vol. 11:1; ISSN JEVQA
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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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
ADSORPTION
ATMOSPHERIC PRECIPITATIONS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
CATIONS
CHARGED PARTICLES
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
FORESTS
GROUND WATER
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INORGANIC ACIDS
IONS
MAPLES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PH VALUE
PLANTS
QUANTITY RATIO
RAIN
SOILS
SORPTION
SULFATES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SULFURIC ACID
TREES
WATER