Atmospheric deposition of nutrients and pollutants in North America: An ecological perspective

Journal Article · Tue Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1994 · Ecological Applications; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2307/1941997· OSTI ID:6794993

Lovett, G M ^[1]

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1. Institute of Ecosystem Studies, Millbrook, NY (United States)

Research on air pollution and acidic deposition in the last 15 yr has greatly increased knowledge of the rates and the processes of atmospheric deposition. Invigoration of the field has been a direct result of interchange and cooperation among ecosystem ecologists, micrometeorologists, and plant physiological ecologists who approach atmospheric deposition from different perspectives. There is a widespread realization among ecologists of the importance of dry and cloud deposition and the introduction of new methods to estimate these fluxes. This paper summarizes current understanding of atmospheric deposition processes, measurement methods, and patterns of deposition in North America. Dry deposition measurements are still highly uncertain in most cases, and methodology is an active area of research and debate, but ecologists will require different methods to evaluate dry deposition fluxes of the various elements important to ecosystems. Standard model formulations have been developed for estimating dry and cloud deposition, and are finding wide use in flux estimation at sites where direct measurements are unavailable. National monitoring networks for wet and dry deposition have been established, providing information on continental- and regional-scale patterns. Research has demonstrated deposition rates are increased substantially at high-elevation sites by enhancement of wet, dry, and, especially, cloud deposition. Patterns of O[sub 3] exposure are also different at high-elevation sites. The deposition of O[sub 3], while mechanistically similar to other gases, has been treated differently in the ecological and botanical literature because of its direct phytotoxicity at ambient concentrations in industrialized areas. Current efforts in ozone exposure research involve determining appropriate exposure indices for interpreting biological responses and coupling models of atmospheric transport with models of ozone disposition within the plant. 177 refs., 8 figs., 2 tabs.

• OSTI ID: 6794993
• Journal Information: Ecological Applications; (United States), Journal Name: Ecological Applications; (United States) Vol. 4:4; ISSN 1051-0761; ISSN ECAPE7
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540120* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
ACID RAIN
AIR POLLUTION
AIR POLLUTION MONITORING
ATMOSPHERIC PRECIPITATIONS
DEPOSITION
ECOSYSTEMS
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MONITORING
NORTH AMERICA
OZONE
POLLUTANTS
POLLUTION
RAIN