Power plant influences on bulk precipitation, throughfall, and stemflow nutrient inputs

Journal Article · · J. Environ. Qual.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6139354

Kelly, J M

Inputs of SO/sub 4//sup 2 -/, total N, PO/sub 4//sup 3 -/, K, Ca, and Mg via bulk precipitation, throughfall, and stemflow have been investigated over a 3-year period at two forest study sites on the Cumberland Plateau of Tennessee. The Cross Creek Watershed located 19 km from the Widows Creek coal-fired power plant was used to represent inputs to a forest site in the immediate vicinity of a large emissions source. The Camp Branch Watershed having similar forest cover and soil types, but located in an area 99 and 76 km from the nearest major points sources, used to represent inputs as a function of regional conditions. Location exhibited its greatest influence on stemflow inputs, with only PO/sub 4//sup 3 -/ and K failing to exhibit a statistically significant increase in stemflow input at Cross Creek relative to Camp Branch. Although throughfall SO/sub 4//sup 2 -/, K, Ca, and Mg input values were higher at Cross Creek, they were not significantly higher than the Camp Branch values. Nitrogen and phosphate throughfall input values were lower at Cross Creek than Camp Branch, but again lacked statistical significance. Nitrogen and phosphate in bulk precipitation were significantly elevated at Cross Creek while other elements and compounds did not respond to location. Based on this evaluation most atmospheric contributions to bulk precipitation, throughfall, and stem flow elemental inputs appear to be of regional rather than local origin.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab., TN
• OSTI ID: 6139354
• Journal Information: J. Environ. Qual.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Environ. Qual.; (United States) Vol. 36:3; ISSN JEVQA
• 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
AIR POLLUTION
ALKALI METALS
ALKALINE EARTH METALS
ANIONS
ATMOSPHERIC PRECIPITATIONS
CALCIUM
CHARGED PARTICLES
DATA
ECOSYSTEMS
ELEMENTS
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FEDERAL REGION IV
FORESTS
FOSSIL-FUEL POWER PLANTS
INFORMATION
IONS
MAGNESIUM
METALS
NITROGEN
NONMETALS
NORTH AMERICA
NUMERICAL DATA
NUTRITION
PHOSPHORUS COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
POLLUTION SOURCES
POTASSIUM
POWER PLANTS
SAMPLING
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
TENNESSEE
TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS
THERMAL POWER PLANTS
THROUGHFALL
USA
WATERSHEDS