Study of the effects of acid rain on model forest ecosystems

Journal Article · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1976 · Proc., Annu. Meet., Air Pollut. Control Assoc.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6863637

Lee, J J; Weber, D E

The US EPA is involved in a multi-year experiment to estimate the effects of acid rain on forest productivity and nutriet cycling. Each of eighteen model forest ecosystems, approximately 2.3 m/sup 2/ contains a reconstructed forest soil and litter layer, sugar maple (Acer saccharum) or red alder (Alnus rubra) seedlings, tension lysimeters, and soil moisture/temperature probes. Each plot receives simulated acid rain at one of four ph values (5.7, 4.0, 3.5, 3.0). All treatments contain Ca/sup + +/, NH/sub 4//sup +/, Na/sup +/, Mg/sup + +/, SO/sub 4//sup =/, NO/sub 3//sup -/ and Cl/sup -/ in amounts typical of non-acidic rains in the northeastern United States. The pH values are controlled by equilibration with atmospheric CO/sub 2/ (pH 5.7) or by addition of H/sub 2/SO/sub 4/. Rain is applied at the rate of 2.5 mm/hr (maple) or 3.3 mm/hr (alder) for three hours/day, three days/week, throughout the year. Rainwater is sampled above and below the forest canopy; below the litter; within the root zone; and below the root zone. Biological processes being monitored include tree growth, leaf production, nutrient uptake, litter decomposition, and soil-biota changes. In this paper, the experimental design is described and the underlying conceptual model of ecosystem dynamics is presented. The methods of extrapolation to a regional scale are discussed.

• OSTI ID: 6863637
• Journal Information: Proc., Annu. Meet., Air Pollut. Control Assoc.; (United States), Journal Name: Proc., Annu. Meet., Air Pollut. Control Assoc.; (United States) Vol. 69; ISSN PRAPA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

500200 -- Environment
Atmospheric-- 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
ALKALI METAL COMPOUNDS
ALKALINE EARTH METAL COMPOUNDS
AMMONIUM COMPOUNDS
ATMOSPHERIC PRECIPITATIONS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
CALCIUM COMPOUNDS
CATIONS
CHARGED PARTICLES
CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
ECOSYSTEMS
FOREST LITTER
FORESTS
GROWTH
HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
IONS
LEAVES
MAGNESIUM COMPOUNDS
MAPLES
MATERIALS
MINERAL CYCLING
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
NITRATES
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PH VALUE
PLANT GROWTH
PLANTS
POLLUTION
PRODUCTIVITY
RAIN
SIMULATION
SODIUM COMPOUNDS
SULFATES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS
TREES
US EPA
US ORGANIZATIONS